Decide Nhendo
A 33-year-old man from Musavangana village under Chief Mukanganwi, Bikita was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on October 20, 2023 by regional magistrate Bishad Chineka after being found guilty of attempted murder.
Ngatiyane Chifodya was found guilty of striking his wife with an axe on the hand and leg after which he also used a knife to stab her, accusing her of extra marital affairs.
Representing the state, Liberty Hove said the case was very serious and said there was need for a penalty similar to that of a person who has committed murder since his actions were inhumane since he attacked a defenseless woman in front of children traumatizing them.
It is the State’s case that on June 8, 2023, around 2000 hours the complainant was preparing supper with her two children at their homestead when the accused arrived at the house accusing the complainant to be a prostitute, and the complainant denied the allegations.
The State alleges that the accused person slapped the complainant with an open hand several times on the face, poured cold water on the complainant’s body and struck her with the back of an axe once on the right hand.
The accused person went on to pinch the complainant with a pair of pliers slightly above her vagina, lifted her up and threw her once to the ground and the complainant fell unconscious.
The accused person, before going away, threatened to kill the complainant if she reported the matter to the police, but the complainant later told custodians at Masvingo provincial hospital the person who had brutalized her, who then brought the matter to light resulting in the arrest of accused person.
In his defense Chifodya pleaded not guilty saying his wife fell down from a tree and that is how she sustained serious injuries and insisted he did not commit the crime as he said he also assisted his wife in looking for a car to ferry her to hospital and assisting with hospital bills.
