Darlington Kanyongo

ZVISHAVANE – Moses Runguza, of F19B Kandodo, a security guard at Shabanie Mine recently appeared before resident magistrate Archie Wochiunga facing charges of domestic violence in terms of physical of abuse as defined in Section 4 as read with Section 3 (1)(a) of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 5:16.
It was the State’s case that on October 19 at around 23:15 hrs, Runguza (57) came from work drunk and started shouting at his wife Mirika Runguza (47) alleging he was not the father to their son Robert.
When the wife asked why he was saying that, he became violent and started hitting her with fists on her cheeks and threatened to kill her using a machete.
The complainant later managed to escape and report the matter to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest.
When he was asked why he committed the crime, he simply told the court that he was very drunk and some friends of him were whispering that the son was not his.
He was ordered to pay a fine of $40 before November 30, lest he be taken to prison for 15 days.

Precila Takabvirakare

MPANDAWANA – An 18-year old boy (name withheld for ethical) of Garariza village under Chief Gutu appeared before Gutu magistrate Victor Mahanadi recently facing charges of raping his 10-year-old niece.
He was charged with the crime of rape as defined in Section 65(1) of The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
He was remanded in custody and was due to appear in court again on October 31.
State facts are that on October 06 this year, the boy and his niece were sleeping in the same room with the boy on the bed and the girl and her younger sister on the floor.
It is alleged that the boy sneaked into his niece’s blankets and told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused. The boy went on to remove his short completely, removed the girl’s dress to the waist, removed her pant and had sexual intercourse with her once.
After the illegal act, he threatened to assault the child if she revealed the matter to anyone.
The matter came to light when the child told her parents what had happened and a report was made to the police leading to his arrest.
Millicent Azangwe prosecuted.

Darlington Kanyongo

ZVISHAVANE – Two local young men have been remanded in custody after they almost escaped with 20kg of gold stolen at Sabi Gold Mine.
Benedict Moyo (19), who stays in Makono Village under Chief Mazvihwa and Christopher Bangala (22) who stays in Zvoyi Village also under Chief Mazvihwa, appeared before resident magistrate Archie Wochiunga facing charges of theft as defined in Section 113(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
It was the State’s case that on October 23 soon after midnight, security guards were on patrol around the mine when they noticed the accused coming out of the shaft carrying sacks of gold ore. They then approached the two and arrested them for stealing gold ore from the mine.
Both accused persons were carrying sacks weighing 10kgs of gold ore each and they were remanded in custody to November 08 when they will be asked to plead.
Tinashe Maponde represented the State.

Darlington Kanyongo

ZVISHAVANE – Brighton Imbayago (18) recently appeared in the Zvishavane magistrate court facing charges of stealing goods from Pote Central Supermarket.
He was sentenced to 10 days in prison or, alternatively, to pay $30 fine for contravening Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 ‘Shop lifting’.
State facts as presented by Caroline Mafunga were that on October 19, Imbayago come across a receipt which was not cleared by the security. He then took it and went into the shop to pick items which matched what was on the receipt.
Tambudzai Dube of Guardian Security was informed by an unidentified man who had witnessed Brighton picking up the used receipt.
The security officer then started to monitor Imbayago who then passed the tills without paying and proceeded to the exit.
Dube then approached the suspect and arrested him as he tried to leave.
When asked by magistrate Kudzai Zinyemba why he committed the offence, Imbayago said that he was very hungry and wanted to try his luck.
The stolen items were 1kg Sunlight washing powder, 1.75kg bananas, 500g Cerevita cereals, 1.25g Arenel biscuits, a bar of Dettol washing soap and 200ml Lux body wash all valued at $18.74.

Beatific Gumbwanda

CHIREDZI – Chiredzi resident magistrate Constance Mutandwa last week convicted Ndali Satellite Secondary School Teacher in Charge (TIC), Alice Mukanga for assaulting and politically intimidating fellow teacher Zivanai Dekesa.
The politically-motivated attack costed her $80 in fine or 20 days imprisonment.
Mukanga and Dekesa clashed in July this year after the former had forcibly sought to transfer the later to another school for reasons said to be politically-motivated.
Dekesa had been accused for influencing children and staff to disobey Mukanga.
The State, represented by David Tafangenyasha, argued that in July this year, Mukanga assaulted Dekesa with open hands after the two had a misunderstanding, with Mukanga expressing envy that Dekesa wore expensive suits.
According to State papers, Dekesa decided to walk out of the disciplinary hearing before Mukanga blocked his way and assaulted him with open hands.
The case was reported to Ndali Police Station and was recorded under Case Number 42/06/18 CR and it was first heard in court on August 29, 2018.
In July this year, parents together with children at the school embarked on a strike for about two weeks demanding the reversal of Dekesa’s transfer, who was the sole mathematics teacher.
Dekesa is now teaching at Hlanganani High School, a less prestigious school where he was forcibly transferred.