Community service for pummeling wife

A NYAZURA man turned his defenceless wife into a punching bag when he was confronted over an extra-marital affair.

Wilton Mlambo (38) of Nyazura Township assaulted his wife, Nyaradzo Sigauke (28), with his hands and a brick.

He also stabbed her with a knife and bit her. Mlambo was convicted on his own guilty plea when he recently appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mr Gift Manyika.

He was convicted of contravening Section (4) of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:6.

Mr Manyika sentenced Mlambo to 12 months in jail before suspending four months on condition of good behavior.

The remaining eight months were set aside on condition that Mlambo performs 280 hours of community service.

Mlambo will therefore be usefully utilising his extra energy at Nyazura Police Station through the community service.

Appearing for the State, Mr Innocent Mwoyowaonda said Mlambo only stopped assaulting Sigauke after a passerby intervened.

“Accused person and complainant are husband and wife.

“On August 15, Mlambo had a misunderstanding with Sigauke over the issue of Mlambo’s girlfriend.

“Mlambo grabbed Sigauke’s left hand and twisted it. He also assaulted her with fists several times. He went on to hit her several times with a brick on the left hand.

“Mlambo later stabbed his wife with a knife from a nail-cutter three times on the same hand,” said Mr Mwoyowaonda.

He added: “He also bit Sigauke several times on the right hand. Mlambo was refrained from further assaulting his wife by a passerby who heard her crying. She sustained some injuries.”

In Zimbabwe, about one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence at some point in their lives.