News / National
Woman attacks brother-in-law over isitshwala
04 Apr 2015 at 07:51hrs | Views
A 27-year-old Mberengwa woman nearly chopped off her brother-in-law's left leg after she struck him with a machete in a dispute over isitshwala.
Portia Masendeke of Murayo village, Chief Nyamondo in Mberengwa appeared before Mberengwa resident magistrate, Christopher Maturure, facing a count of domestic violence (physical abuse).
A hungry Masendeke came back home from the borehole and found her husband's brother eating and was infuriated when she found out that he had prepared food for himself only.
A misunderstanding arose and she struck him with a machete.
Masendeke was sentenced to 12 months in prison of which four were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
A further eight months of her sentence were suspended on condition that she performs 280 hours of community service at Manyike Primary School which is near her homestead.
In passing sentence, Maturure said cases of violence especially domestic violence were prevalent in Mberengwa and deterrent sentences were called for to deter would-be offenders.
He said the fact that Masendeke used a lethal weapon - machete to attack her husband's brother made her crime worse.
"You agreed that the fight was over a plate of isitshwala with your husband's brother. That shouldn't have been the case since violence doesn't solve anything. People should live in peace and when misunderstandings arise, they should seek a third party for reconciliation," said Maturure.
Portia Masendeke of Murayo village, Chief Nyamondo in Mberengwa appeared before Mberengwa resident magistrate, Christopher Maturure, facing a count of domestic violence (physical abuse).
A hungry Masendeke came back home from the borehole and found her husband's brother eating and was infuriated when she found out that he had prepared food for himself only.
A misunderstanding arose and she struck him with a machete.
A further eight months of her sentence were suspended on condition that she performs 280 hours of community service at Manyike Primary School which is near her homestead.
In passing sentence, Maturure said cases of violence especially domestic violence were prevalent in Mberengwa and deterrent sentences were called for to deter would-be offenders.
He said the fact that Masendeke used a lethal weapon - machete to attack her husband's brother made her crime worse.
"You agreed that the fight was over a plate of isitshwala with your husband's brother. That shouldn't have been the case since violence doesn't solve anything. People should live in peace and when misunderstandings arise, they should seek a third party for reconciliation," said Maturure.
Source - chronicle
