In a chilling murder case that has shocked the Midlands province, a 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison after stabbing a fellow villager to death during a confrontation at Zumba Business Centre.

Gift Chimbangu, from Matekenya Village under Chief Chireya in Gokwe North, was convicted by the High Court on murder charges for his role in the fatal incident, which occurred on January 1, 2023. At the time of the crime, Chimbangu was 25 years old.

According to court proceedings, the accused and the deceased were attending a social event where people were dancing to music at Zumba Business Centre. The altercation began when one of the dancers fatally stabbed another with a knife. Chimbangu and two others gave chase, pursuing the dancer responsible for the initial stabbing.

When they failed to catch the fleeing attacker, the deceased allegedly obstructed Chimbangu’s pursuit, leading to a heated exchange between the two. In a fit of rage, Chimbangu stabbed the victim in the chest, killing him on the spot.

In a bizarre twist, Chimbangu wiped the blood-stained knife on his own hair before fleeing the scene. Police were notified, and an investigation led to his swift arrest.

After hearing the evidence, the High Court found Chimbangu guilty of murder and handed down a 33-year prison sentence.