Woman bashed over $1 debt, friendship terminated

A GWANDA woman allegedly assaulted her friend with a log and terminated their friendship following a dispute over a $1 debt, a court heard.

Thembani Matsheza of Ekhaya Compound in West Nicholson reportedly assaulted Alice Ndlovu after she failed to pay back $1 she owed her.

Appearing before Gwanda magistrate Arafat Kozanai yesterday, Matsheza admitted assaulting Ndlovu.

"Your worship, I owed the complainant $1 but we had a misunderstanding over the issue, which resulted in us fighting. I didn't intend to fight her but she was the aggressor and I retaliated," said Matsheza.

"We grew up together and we were friends before this fight."

Kozanai sentenced Matsheza to six months in prison and conditionally suspended three months for five years.The remaining three months were also suspended on condition she performed 105 hours of community service at West Nicholson Police Station starting today.

Magistrate Kozanai said people should learn to resolve matters amicably as some end up killing each other over petty issues.

"So you had to expand energies over $1?" asked Kozanai.

"It is these assaults that lead to murder. People must learn to resolve matters amicably."

Prosecutor Edward Ndlovu said on June 3, Matsheza assaulted Ndlovu by striking her twice on the hand with a log in a misunderstanding over $1.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Matsheza's arrest.