Man jailed for setting vendor on fire over sadza dispute

A Mazowe man has been sentenced to an effective four years in prison after dousing a female food vendor with petrol and setting her alight following a dispute over change for a plate of sadza.

Kudakwashe Nyeverai, 32, of Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, was convicted of attempted murder by the Bindura Regional Magistrates' Court.

The court initially sentenced him to five years in prison before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve four years behind bars.

The attack occurred on March 27, 2026, at around 11:00AM in Chiweshe Village, Mazowe.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the 25-year-old victim was operating a food stall in the Chitungwiza area of the village when Nyeverai approached and ordered a plate of sadza.

Prosecutors said Nyeverai paid US$1 for the first serving but was asked to pay upfront when he requested a second plate. A dispute reportedly broke out over change, escalating into violence.

In a fit of rage, Nyeverai allegedly poured petrol from a two-litre container onto the vendor's head and face while she was cooking near an open fire.

The flames ignited immediately, leaving the woman with severe burns to her head and face. She was later treated for her injuries.

In a statement following the conviction, the NPAZ said violent offenders would continue to face the full force of the law.

"The justice system will continue to firmly deal with violent offenders whose reckless actions place innocent lives at risk," the authority said.

Nyeverai has since started serving his sentence at a local correctional facility.