Bright Zhou
NYAJENA – In an act that left many villagers shocked, a 67 year-old woman who resides at Chiwawa Village in Chief Nyajena, Masvingo lost her front teeth before she was undressed following a fight with a fellow villager over garden poles.
Hither Banda (65) is being accused of beating up Sheliphas Rucheche (67) who lost front teeth during the fight as well as her clothes which were torn into pieces.
Banda has since appeared before Masvingo magistrate Ivy Jaona facing assault charges.
It is the State’s case as presented by Tinotenda Makoti that on September 9, 2023 around 0800hours the complainant Rucheche (67) passed by the accused person’s homestead and allegedly saw some garden poles which she suspected were stolen at her garden.
Rucheche then immediately confronted Banda asking her where she got the poles. However, Banda was irked by the question and started insulting Rucheche calling her a witch.
Rucheche then entered Banda’s home yard and managed to collect three garden poles which were at the center of the yard.
Banda confronted her and physically attached her before undressed Rucheche in front of the kids who were playing the yard. She started assaulting Rucheche with a log several times before she through her clothes in a blair toilet pit, leaving Rucheche completely naked.
Banda pushed Rucheche out of her yard but she refused since she was naked, Banda then took a log and hit Rucheche two times on the face and she lost her front teeth on the spot.
Rucheche shouted for help from Banda’s neighbors, and she was rushed to Gunikuni clinic before reporting the matter to the police and the accused was arrested.
Banda was sentenced to community service.
