Chronicle Editor
Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
A 21-year-old self-confessed prostitute in Gweru, who is a repeat offender, has been sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting a colleague.
Lucia Ncube of Mkoba 6 suburb appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga facing assault and malicious damage to property charges.
She was convicted against her own plea of not guilty.
Ncube had claimed that the complainant, Belinda Dube was the one who attacked her first.
“Dube was the one who attacked me claiming that I was a bully at the bar and I was rescued by two police officers,” she said.
In passing sentence, Ms Taruvinga said she had considered that Ncube was not a first offender.
“This is your fourth time appearing before the court facing the same charge. It has become your habit of solving disputes over men using violence. The fact that the complainant was hired thrice by your boyfriend when you were in jail resulted in a grudge between the two of you.
“At one time you were ordered to perform community service which you didn’t do hence you have to be given a prison term,” she said.
Prosecuting, Ms Chipo Ncube said on May 12 at around 10PM at Mpambadzire night club in Gweru, Ncube found Dube drinking beer with her boyfriend.
“Ncube arrived and slapped Dube once on her cheek for no apparent reason and went away. Dube went on to run after Ncube but failed to get hold of her, while going back into the club the accused person grabbed the complainant’s weave from behind and started beating her several times using fists accusing her of being a bully at the bar,” she said.
“Accused person went on to hit the complainant’s right hand which contained her cell phone and it fell resulting in a cracked screen.”
Dube made a report to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person.—@amanda4.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter