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Shumirai Zhou
13 March 2017, ZVISHAVANE – A woman from Muganhu village in Makacha under Chief Mapanzure was recently left nursing serious wounds after her neighbour hit her with a brick and proceeded to beat her over alleged unfair distribution of food aid.
Suwisai Muganhu was dragged before Zvishavane Magistrate Archie Wochiunga and was convicted of assaulting Chipo Sibanda after his own guilty plea.
He was sentenced to 20 days in prison or alternatively to pay a US$100 fine.
Appearing for the State, Stanley Ncube said on January 8, 2017, Muganhu hit Sibanda with a brick on the head and the complainant felt down.
He then started beating the complainant on her head until one villager, Sadam Mlangeni, who had heard the complainant’s cries, rushed to the scene to restrain Muganhu.
This was after Chief Mapanzure called a meeting in the area to discuss the distribution of food aid. Serious disputes emerged at the meeting, with some villagers complaining that committee leaders were corruptly allocating themselves and their relatives more food.
It was heard that Sibanda and Muganhu had found themselves on different sides of the divide at the meeting. After the meeting, Muganhu later waited for Sibanda in the bush where he ambushed her.
Last month, Chief Makumbe of Buhera called for the suspension of food aid, saying it was causing serious divisions in communities with villagers now bewitching each other over the food.local
