Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison for burning down his ex-wife’s employer’s house in Matetsi, on the outskirts of Victoria Falls.
Maxon Khiwa Mpofu appeared at the Victoria Falls Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with the crime of malicious damage to property as defined in Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Magistrate Fungai Dzimiri sentenced him to 48 months in prison, of which 12 months were suspended.
He will serve an effective 36 months.
Prosecutor Ms Daphney Ntini told the court that on 29 January 2026 at Hakani Dube’s homestead in Masikili Village 2, Matetsi, Mpofu unlawfully and intentionally set a bedroom hut and property alight using a gas lighter, intending to cause damage.
“The complainant is Hakani Dube, aged 34, of Masikili Village 2. The accused resides at Hombororo Ndlovu’s Homestead in Jabula Village 4, Jambezi, and is unemployed.
“On 29 January at around 1:30pm, Mpofu went to the homestead where his ex-wife, Sikhulile Mthethwa, works as a maid, and a misunderstanding arose. He later returned at around 5pm, asked for his ex-wife’s whereabouts, and proceeded to set the bedroom hut on fire before fleeing,” she said.
The total value of damaged property is US$2,481, and nothing was recovered.
