A 29-year-old Zimbabwean man, Phillip Nkomo, has been remanded in custody after a domestic dispute over leftover food escalated into a violent assault on his sister. The incident, which took place earlier this month at Thokozani Flats in the Mzilikazi suburb, Zimbabwe, has left the victim nursing visible injuries and the family deeply shaken.
Nkomo appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele on a single charge of physical abuse. Prosecutor Sibusisiwe Sithole narrated how a minor disagreement in the household quickly turned into a brutal attack. According to her, Nkomo became enraged when his sister refused to let him eat food she had reserved for her young son.
“The complainant refused, saying she had reserved it for her son. The accused person became violent and assaulted her indiscriminately,” Sithole told the court.
The court heard that the attack was severe, leaving the woman with a swollen eye and forehead, injuries that required medical treatment at Mpilo Central Hospital. Following the assault, the victim reported the matter to the police, leading to Nkomo’s immediate arrest.
The case has been postponed, and the accused will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
The violent altercation has drawn attention to the growing issue of domestic conflicts in Bulawayo, where seemingly trivial disputes often escalate into physical violence.
