Woman collapses in court over $75 fine

THERE was drama at Masvingo Magistrate Courts on Tuesday when a Gutu woman collapsed after she was ordered to pay $75 for pouring hot water on her husband after a misunderstanding.

Esnath Chakawa (22) who resides at Sonoma 3 Village, Soti Source in Gutu had appeared before magistrate Mr Peter Madhiba and was convicted of domestic violence charges and sentenced to pay $75 fine before June 29, failure of which she would spend 25 days in prison.

The court was forced to adjourn after Chakawa collapsed.

She was carried out of courtroom and attended to by some court officials, while waiting for an ambulance.

She regained consciousness after an hour, but could not remember where she was or what had happened.

Chakawa pleaded not guilty to the charges as she maintained that her husband Mr Tapiwa Mutana (24) poured hot water on himself while trying to escape through the window.

The prosecutor Makanaka Chikamhi said on October 11, 2016, Chakawa and Mr Mutana were at their matrimonial home at Gutu Mission Hospital compound.

A misunderstanding arose between the two over Chakawa’s behaviour of leaving the house without the knowledge of Mr Mutana and also coming back home during odd hours. Chakawa took a kettle with hot water and poured it on Mr Mutana’s left shoulder and neck.

Mr Mutana went to Gutu Mission Hospital for medical attention where a doctor observed that he sustained four percent burns.