5 violent family members jailed

Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
FIVE relatives from Mvuma that include two couples have each been sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting a fellow villager who had asked for $20 that one of them owed him. The family members beat up the villager until he fainted.

Thomas Mangamanyi, 28, his wife Florence, 26, Simbarashe Chipfunhu, 48, his wife Tariro, 40, and their son Event, 19, all from Village 13, Musena in Mvuma were each convicted of one count of assault by Gweru Magistrate Musaiwona Shotgame.

All had pleaded not guilty.

In passing sentence, Shotgame said the five accused had no right to take the law into their own hands.

“You connived to assault the complainant who had done nothing wrong but only asked for his $20 that one of you owed him,” he said.

He sentenced each of the accused to 18 months imprisonment but suspended six months on each on condition that they do not in the next five years commit a similar offence.

Prosecuting, Bernard Nyoni told the court that on May 17 this year, Peter Manokore went to Mangamanyi’s house to ask for $20 that he lent him.

Nyoni said Manokore went to the bedroom door and knocked but did not get any response.

The five then proceeded to the bedroom where Manokore was waiting.

“Mangamanyi’s wife then went out and called Chipfunhu and his wife and son to come and help her husband to teach Manokore a lesson. They went to Mangamanyi’s homestead and started shouting at Manokore who was sitting in a chair.

“Mangamanyi then took a baton and struck the complainant and the other four then joined in. They punched and kicked Manokore all over the body,” said Nyoni.

He said Manokore became unconscious and fell to the ground.

The court heard that the five accused persons then called their neighbours to call the police and told them that they had assaulted Manokore because he wanted to steal from their bedroom.

Police attended the scene and arrested Manokore.

Manokore later told the police that he was innocent, adding that the five were making a false accusation against him.