Bright Zhou
A 48 year -old Masvingo man who resides at village 12 Mkosi resettlement under chief Shumba recently appeared before Masvingo magistrate Ivy Jaona on Malicious damage of property charges after setting his neighbor’s vehicle on fire over a dispute involving a village water well.
He was remanded in custody to October 4, 2023for continuation on.
It is the states’ case as presented by Isabel Pambuka that on September, 2023 the accused person Peter Masvimbo (48) went on to fence a well tha was being used by whole community in the village including the complainant Kenias Muroiwa (51).
Muroiwa then confronted Masvimbo asking why he had fenced the well, Masvimbo blocked members of the village from fetching water at the well and this did not go well until the matter was reported to village headman Phineas Zezai who later summoned Muroiwa to rule on the matter.
A misunderstanding arose between Muroiwa and Masvimbo and, on September 29, 2023 at around 0325hours, Masvimbo went to Muroiwa’s homestead whilst Muroiwa was sleeping in his bedroom.
Muroiwa then noticed a light used by Masvimbo passing in between the kitchen and his bedroom, suddenly he saw Masvimbo set on fire to his vehicle Toyota Noah which was parked between the bedroom and the kitchen.
Muroiwa then came outside his bedroom and noticed a huge flame of fire coming up from the engine of his vehicle, Muroiwa then saw Masvimbo through the fire light and he fled away into the darkness after Muroiwa called him by his name.
Muroiwa did not chase Masvimbo he managed to set off fire on his vehicle, he then went to Masvimbo’s homestead about one hundred and fifty metres from his home and he had an ambush before Masvimbo reached his homestead.
Muroiwa then saw Masvimbo entering his homestead and he took no action at that moment he then reported the matter at Muchakata ZRP and investigations were instituted leading to the arrest of Masvimbo.
