Man axed over witchcraft allegations

A ZIMUNYA man who accused his father-in-law of practising witchcraft and breaking up his marriage has been hauled before the courts after he allegedly axed the complainant in a fit of rage.

Claud Zimunya of Gosho Village denied the assault charges when he appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate Mr Tendai Mabwe last week.

He is alleged to have contravened Section 89 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23. Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted. Allegations were that during the wee hours of August 19, the complainant, Peter Zimunya, was asleep with his wife and daughter when the accused knocked on his wife’s door.

The complainant woke up and went to check what was happening as his daughter and the accused person were no longer living together.

“When he opened the door, the accused person struck him with an axe on the right arm. He accused him of witchcraft claiming that he was the one who had destroyed his marriage. After committing the offence he fled,” said Mr Karombe.

Claude denied ever visiting the complainant’s homestead on the day in question.

“Your Worship, I never visited their homestead that night. How then would I have struck him with an axe? Only a wizard can visit someone around midnight like it is being alleged and I am not one,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to September 17 for trial.