News / National
Tenant assaults landlord over $36 water bill
16 May 2016 at 01:36hrs | Views
A WOMAN from Gweru allegedly assaulted her landlord after he attempted to take her property as collateral when she refused to settle a $36 water bill.
Joyce Matindike, 28, of Mkoba Village 13, was given a wholly suspended sentence by Gweru Magistrate Mildred Matuvi after being found guilty of assault. She had pleaded not guilty to the offence but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
In her defence, Matindike said it was in fact her landlord Onward Madire, 64, who assaulted her after she refused to pay a water bill that was supposed to be paid by a former tenant.
Magistrate Matuvi sentenced her to three months in prison that were wholly suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Prosecuting, Ernest Muzembi said on April 1, Matindike was asked by her landlord to pay $36 to cover their water bill, but she refused claiming that she could not pay a former tenant's bill.
"Madire then asked her to leave the house but she refused and requested for a notice of eviction and started insulting him using vulgar words," said Muzembi.
He said Matindike later decided to relocate to another house in a bid to avoid paying the bill.
The court heard that as Matindike was about to leave, Madire pushed her and her son to the ground. He took a sofa and a bag that had her documents as collateral.
"She then started assaulting Madire using fists and booted feet on his head and neck after he had told her that she wasn't going anywhere without paying her water bill," he said. Madire was rescued by a neighbour, Mercy Gumbo.
Joyce Matindike, 28, of Mkoba Village 13, was given a wholly suspended sentence by Gweru Magistrate Mildred Matuvi after being found guilty of assault. She had pleaded not guilty to the offence but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
In her defence, Matindike said it was in fact her landlord Onward Madire, 64, who assaulted her after she refused to pay a water bill that was supposed to be paid by a former tenant.
Magistrate Matuvi sentenced her to three months in prison that were wholly suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
"Madire then asked her to leave the house but she refused and requested for a notice of eviction and started insulting him using vulgar words," said Muzembi.
He said Matindike later decided to relocate to another house in a bid to avoid paying the bill.
The court heard that as Matindike was about to leave, Madire pushed her and her son to the ground. He took a sofa and a bag that had her documents as collateral.
"She then started assaulting Madire using fists and booted feet on his head and neck after he had told her that she wasn't going anywhere without paying her water bill," he said. Madire was rescued by a neighbour, Mercy Gumbo.
Source - chronicle
