Uncle assaults nephew for bedding wife

A 54-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man has been sentenced to 315 hours of community service after he attacked his 29-year-old nephew with an axe for bedding his wife.

Kenneth Makhosonke of Sikhathini area was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Mawere last week. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

The remaining nine months were further suspended on condition that he performs 315 hours of community service at Sikhathini Clinic. In mitigation, Makhosonke said he had assaulted his nephew as he was having an affair with his wife which later destroyed his marriage.

“My nephew was having an affair with my wife and this pissed me off. He was also going around ordering my children to call him “father” which is a great sign of disrespect. The affair which he was having with my wife also destroyed my marriage because as I speak I have separated with my wife because of this affair,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Zorodzai Pengapenga said Makhosonke struck his nephew, Mr Khalipani Ngulube with an axe on the forehead on 28 August.

“Makhosonke armed himself with an axe and went to his nephew’s homestead. He knocked on the bedroom door and budged in before his nephew could respond. Makhosonke found his nephew still lying on the bed and started accusing him of sleeping with his wife. He also accused his nephew of spreading rumours that he was barren,” said Mr Pengapenga.

He said Makhosonke struck his nephew with an axe once on the forehead. Mr Ngulube fled from his homestead and sought refuge at a neighbour’s house. The matter was reported to the police resulting in Makhosonke’s arrest.