Woman razes down step-mother's huts

AN embittered Marange woman has appeared in court after burning her step-mother's huts accusing her of causing her bareness. Listen Marwa (27), of Tonhorai Village under Chief Marange appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Langton Mukwengi, but pleaded not guilty to the charges of malicious damage of Rhoda Mutai's property.

Prosecuting, Mr Donald Mudadirwa told the court that the conflict began when Listen's father made a report to Chief Marange that his wife's witchcraft had caused his daughter's bareness, something which was causing complications in her marriage.

"Sometime in December 2014, a meeting was held at Chief Marange's court and an agreement was reached that a prophet would be summoned to ascertain whether or not the octogenarian Mutai was indeed a witch responsible for Listen's failure to conceive," he said. Apparently, the prophet who was called by Chief Marange declared Mutai innocent and this did not go down well with Marwa who vowed to have her ‘revenge' on her step-mother.

In anger, Listen is alleged to have left the chief's court and went straight to Mutai's homestead and set alight her two huts, destroying all her foodstuffs and belongings, including her National Identity card.

Mutai who had slowly gone home because of her back and walking problems only got to know about the destruction of her home by villagers who had closely followed Listen when she had left the court session. Listen was expected back in the dock yesterday.