Village head axes villager for not respecting his order

A 50-year-old Nyambi village head in Gwanda assaulted a fellow villager with an axe on the head for not respecting his order not to cut poles from a grazing area has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Pulao Sebata (50), a village head at Nyambi area under Chief Mathe appeared before Matabeleland South magistrate-in-charge Mr Douglas Vakayi Chikwekwe on Thursday to answer to a charge of assault.

Sebata pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison, which was wholly suspended on condition that he performs 840 hours of community service at Mandihongola Secondary School.

On 20 May this year at about 10am, Sebata had a misunderstanding with the complainant Mr Obert Nyathi (59).

Sebata found the complainant cutting down trees for poles at a grazing land in Nyambi.

Sebata ordered Mr Nyathi to stop cutting the trees but the complainant ignored him.

This angered Sebata who then proceeded to hit Mr Nyathi on the head with an axe and he fell down unconscious.

As a result of the assault Mr Nyathi sustained a deep cut on his head and bled through the ear.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Sebata.

Mr Mncedisi Dube prosecuted.