Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Freddy Mandebvu of Plot 36 Altornburg under Chief Chitanga reportedly impregnated his neighbour’s wife when her husband was out of the country and later instigated the man’s arrest upon his return, the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court heard last week.
This came out during the trial of Godfrey Hlanga (34) and Joseph Hlanga (29) who both reside at Plot 17 Altornburg under Chief Chitanga on charges of unlawful entry into premises.
The two brothers, who pleaded not guilty, told the court that they were merely being framed by the complaint, Evelyn Madya who is Mandebvu’s wife. They argued that the couple framed them as a way of revenge because they reported Mandebvu to the chief’s court impregnating Joseph’s wife.
Giving her side of the story, Madya blamed Joseph for his wife’s infidelity saying he spent too much time away from her.
“You are the one to blame for it. You went to South Africa for three years and how did you expect your wife to get love. After all, you did not fend for her for that period.
“For survival, she ended up getting some piece jobs at my homestead. I was not aware that I was also sharing a husband with her
but the truth of the matter is that you are squarely to blame for all this,” Madya told the court.
It is the State’s case that on October 6, last year at around 21:00 hrs, while Madya was at a church service with her husband, Godfrey approached them and in view of congregants, started threatening and scolding him for impregnating Joseph’s wife.
The court heard that Godfrey was later restrained by fellow villagers and was forced to leave but he later teamed up with Joseph and went to the complaint’s homestead where they destroyed property including a TV set, speakers and cups valued at US$393.
They got away with US$300 cash which they found in the room. That same night, the two were spotted by the complainant leaving her homestead after committing the offence. A police report was made leading to the two’s arrest.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa postponed the matter to a later date for continuation of trial. Willard Chasi prosecuted.local
