Jilted man kidnaps, tries to drown older lover

AN 18-YEAR old man from Bulilima allegedly kidnapped his 25-year-old girlfriend and severely assaulted her before attempting to drown her in a dam after she dumped him for another man.

Mbathisi Sibanda of Hingwe area told a Plumtree magistrate that his girlfriend, Unalina Sibanda, only told him that she no longer loved him after he caught her with another man.

Mbathisi, who was facing unlawful entry,  kidnapping and assault charges, admitted assaulting Unalina, but denied the other charges.
Plumtree magistrate Livard Philemon sentenced him to three months in jail for assault.

The sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he performs 105 hours of community service at Hingwe Clinic.

Mbathisi will go on trial on kidnapping and unlawful entry charges and was remanded out of custody to February 24 on free bail.

Unalina told the court that Mbathisi gained access to her bedroom hut and assaulted her.

He allegedly led her out of the house while she was half dressed.

"Mbathisi opened a broken window to my bedroom   and gained entry while I was asleep. I was only wearing a skirt and he assaulted me with a switch. He told me that he was punishing me for dumping him,'' said Unalina.

She said her ex-boyfriend led her to a dam where he tried to drown her.

Unalina said she fought back until Mbathisi gave up and led her to his homestead.

She said Mbathisi locked her in his bedroom hut and started assaulting her again.

In his defence, Mbathisi said on the day in question, Unalina left her home willingly and accompanied him to his place of residence.

'"I didn't use a window to enter her bedroom hut but I knocked and she opened for me. I had gone there to confront her about dumping me. I didn't take her to the dam or try to drown her but we proceeded to my place of residence. She did that willingly,'' said Mbathisi.

Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said Mbathisi committed the crime on February 10 between 10PM and 11PM.