By Shaffie A Mtambo
The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Limbe has convicted and sentenced David Mponda, 26, to 10 years Imprisonment with hard labour for committing an offense of Grievous Harm.
The Court heard from State Prosecutor Inspector Monica Muotchamanja of Limbe Police Station that, on 18th July 2023, the convict and his three friends, including the victim, were doing piece work at a certain house in Mabweni village, Machinjiri, where they were assigned to burn bricks in a Kiln.
Muotchamanja further informed the court that casual labourers were provided with food supplies meant to last for two days and on this particular day, they consumed part of it during lunch break.
During the trial, it was also revealed that Mponda had secretly left the workplace and consumed all the remaining food that had been reserved for the following day’s lunch. He was seen in the act by the victim, who later informed their colleagues after confronting him.
Prosecutor Muotchamanja told the court that the convict was angered by the victim’s revelations and he took a Panga knife which he used to hack him in the head, resulting in a serious injury which led to his unconsciousness.
Well-wishers rushed him to Mkolokoti Police Unit, where he was further referred to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, where he was admitted.
Limbe Police detectives managed to arrest Mponda on May 20, 2025, at Misewu 6 in Machinjiri Township after being on the run all this time.
Appearing before court, Mponda pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him and in mitigation he prayed for leniency and asked the court to consider giving him an option of paying a fine, but the state asked for a stiffer punishment because his acts posed a death threat to the victim who had been hospitalized for over two months, undergoing several head surgeries.
Presenting the sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Akia Mwanyongo concurred with the state and he slapped Mponda with a 10-year imprisonment with hard labour.
David Mponda hails from Mabweni Village, Traditional Authority, Kapeni in Blantyre.
