Bashed chief forgives teen assailant

CHIEF Siabuwa of Binga has withdrawn assault charges against a 17-year-old girl who allegedly hit him with an empty beer bottle after he reprimanded her for being skimpily dressed.

Chief Siabuwa (52) who is a teacher at Siabuwa Primary School, said he forgave the Sinansengwe Secondary School Form Four girl after he discovered that she is his niece and that the issue had traumatised her.

The Chronicle caught up with the Chief in Victoria Falls at a chiefs’ training workshop organised by Homelink Finance and National University of Science and Technology.

He said while he bemoaned moral decadency exhibited by the girl, he felt that the incident had traumatised her.

Chief Siabuwa said charging the girl would have torn the family apart.

“I got angry and approached her when she told her friend not to listen to me saying I was talking nonsense. My intention was to caution her as that’s my role as a teacher and Chief. Before I got to her, she picked an empty bottle and hit me below the left eye at close range.

“I drove to the police station and reported the assault leading to the girl’s arrest. I was shocked when we later met at the funeral of my mother who is her grandmother on the maternal side.

“She greeted me and I asked if she now realised who I was and she was remorseful hence I decided to withdraw the case,” said Chief Siabuwa. — @ncubeleon