Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A 42- YEAR-OLD Zimunya woman who pulled her brother-in-law’s privates was on Tuesday sentenced to 12 months in jail.
Patricia Mukonyerwa, of Shiridzinomwa Village, under Chief Zimunya was sentenced upon conviction by Mutare magistrate, Mr Lawrence Mubvumbi.
She was convicted of contravening Section 3 (1) (a) as read with Section 4 (1) of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:16 — which criminalises any form of physical abuse.
The State was represented by Ms Loice Mazvita Kadenha.
Four months of her sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining eight months were suspended on condition that she performs 205 hours of community service at Murare Primary School in Zimunya.
The court heard that Mukonyerwa pulled Edmore Mwoyowehama’s privates following a misunderstanding over her husband’s property, which the victim was reportedly in possession of.
The State had that on February 20, Mukonyerwa approached Mwoyowehama, who was in his nephew’s kitchen.
Mwoyowehama was holding a machete.
“Upon arrival, Mukonyerwa demanded the property which was left by her husband under the care of Mwoyowehama. He told her that he did not have that property at his house. This provoked Mukonyerwa, and a misunderstanding ensued between the two. Mukonyerwa tried to grab the machete Mwoyowehama was holding, but failed,” said Ms Kadenha.
Mukonyerwa shoved one of her hands into her brother-in-law’s pants and held his privates tightly.
Mwoyowehama managed to escape, and filed a report at ZRP Zimunya Post, which subsequently led to Mukonyerwa’s arrest.
The court heard that Mwoyowehama sustained a cut on the right hand finger and pain on his privates.
He, however, was not medically examined.
In sentencing her, Mr Mubvumbi said Mukonyerwa had acted unlawfully by holding her brother-in-law’s privates tightly as she had an intention of causing bodily harm or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that bodily harm might result.
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