Woman bashed for continual menstruation

A clerk at the Victoria Falls Municipality-run Chinotimba Clinic beat up his wife for continuously menstruating thereby denying him his conjugal rights.

Although he could not specify for how long his wife had been menstruating, Cosmas Dube (38), of Chinotimba suburb said they had "not had sex for a while".

Dube and Colana Zulu (35), have been married for 15 years and have two children together.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to physical abuse when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani on Friday.

He was fined $100 or 10 weeks in prison if he fails to pay the fine.

In addition, the magistrate sentenced Dube to two weeks in jail which were wholly suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour.

Said Dube in court as he pleaded for leniency: "I was upset because we haven't had sex for a while. She had been continually bleeding and so I was upset because of that. I got drunk and took it out on her."

An attempt by Zulu to withdraw the case couldn't save her husband as the magistrate went on to convict him despite a withdrawal affidavit.

Prosecuting, Mr Listen Nare said the abuse took place on 26 May this year at the couple's rented house.

"On 26 May at around 11pm the accused arrived home and was served food. After eating he went to the bedroom where the complainant was and started assaulting her with fists," said Nare.

The court heard that Zulu managed to escape and went to report the matter to the police leading to her husband's arrest that same night.

Zulu was not injured and did not seek medical attention.