Headman vandalises cousin’s property

or face five months in prison.
Phineas Chanakira (83) had denied the charges of malicious damage to property when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Barbara Chimboza but was found guilty after a full trial. Ms Chimboza sentenced Chanakira to 10 months in prison but set aside five months on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
The remaining five months were suspended on condition that Chanakira restitutes his cousin Vengesai Chanakira US$700 on or before January 1 next year.
Prosecutor Ms Tafadzwa Makwande told the court that on September 23 this year, Phineas went to Vengesai’s place armed with an axe. While at the homestead, Phineas razed down the 10-pillar security wall before slicing it completely with an axe.
The following day, he went back to the place and left a letter to Vengesai’s worker, Wiseman Kawanzura demanding Vengesai to attend a court hearing at Chief Seke’s court. In his defence, Phineas defended his criminal conduct saying he had every right to act in the manner he did since his cousin had erected the wall on the land not allocated to him.