MDC member arrested for assault moments after release from prison

Felix Mashavele (32) of Ranganai village under Chief Neshuro was on Thursday released from jail after serving his prison sentence but was arrested moments later for assaulting his elderly mother in-law.

Mashavele was last year jailed for an effective six months after being convicted on two counts of arson committed against his in-laws following a dispute.

He was released on March 28 after completing his sentence.

Mashavele then went to his village and allegedly assaulted his mother in-law and a report was made to the police leading to his arrest.  He appeared before magistrate Mandlenkosi Ndlovu on Monday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault.

For the two counts of assault magistrate Ndlovu sentenced Mashavele to a month in prison or to pay a fine of $100. In addition to that, a four-month prison sentence was temporarily suspended on condition that he will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

The State's Caroline Pasipanodya convinced the court that on March 28, 2019 around 20:00hrs, Mashavele approached her 70-year-old mother-in-law Muhlava Kuruma (70), grabbed her walking stick and used it to beat her all over her head.

He also used the stick to assault one Tendai Shoko for no apparent reason and was only restrained by one John Kuruma.

A police report was made leading to Mashavele's arrest. The two complainants were not medically examined.

During last year's harmonised elections, Mashavele contested to be councillor for Ward 7 but he lost to Killion Murabharari of Zanu-PF.