Darwendale couple nabbed for assault

A DARWENDALE couple which beat up and robbed a herder has appeared in court.

Tafadzwa Mateko, 40, and his wife, Memory Simbanai, 32, of Nicotina Farm appeared before Chinhoyi provincial magistrate Tapiwa Banda charged with two counts of assault and robbery.

The complainant in this case is Lefias Maveta of Kasanzi Farm.

Simbanai pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery and was found not guilty and acquitted.

However, her husband Mateka, who also pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault, was found guilty.

He was fined $25 000 or 120 days in jail. An additional three months were suspended for five years of good behaviour.

Prosecuting, Tinoziva Chipupuri told the court that on November 19 2020 and at around 12pm, Maveta was herding cattle when he was approached by Mateko, who lured him to a field where his wife Simbanai was weeding.

As Mateko and Maveta were moving around the field, Mateko ordered Maveta to give him US$50 and threatened him with death if he failed to comply.

Before Maveta could answer, he was punched with a fist on his neck and he fell down. He was again punched with a fist on the right eye.

Mateko searched him and took out US$81. As Maveta tried to stand up, his Land Rover cellphone fell from his pocket and Simbanai picked it up and gave it to her husband.

The couple immediately vanished from the scene.

Maveta made a report to Kutama police and was referred to hospital for medical examination.