Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A 32-year-old man from Jibajiba Village in Lupane District shocked a local court when he claimed evil spirits had instructed him to viciously assault his wife during a drunken rage.
Ndabezinhle Dube appeared before Lupane magistrate, Mr Blessing Shumba, facing charges of physical abuse under the Domestic Violence Act.
He pleaded guilty to the offence, admitting to the brutal attack but insisted he had been under the influence of both alcohol and supernatural forces.
“Your Worship, evil spirits drove me to beat up my wife, and that’s what she was also told at church.
“I was drunk when I arrived home at midnight from work and just felt compelled to do what I did. May the court forgive me,” Dube pleaded.
Despite his claims, the court convicted Dube and sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment, of which five months were conditionally suspended. He will serve an effective 10-month jail term.
According to the prosecution led by Felicity Sibanda, the incident occurred on June 8, 2025, around 1AM. The complainant, Happiness Nyathi (37), who is Dube’s wife, was asleep in her bedroom hut with their two minor children when Dube arrived home in a drunken state.
He attempted to enter the hut but failed because the door was secured with a chain from inside.
Undeterred, he forcefully broke the door open. His wife, startled by the noise, initially thought an intruder was breaking in.
When she realised it was her husband, she asked why he had not announced himself so she could open the door properly.
Dube, who was visibly irate, accused his wife of hiding a boyfriend in the room and began insulting her. Without any evidence of infidelity, he picked up the broken chain and began assaulting her all over her body.
The attack escalated when he dragged her outside, picked up an iron rod, and struck her several times on the head and arms as she tried to defend herself.
The court heard that Dube then bit his wife on the neck and when she tried to escape to a nearby homestead, he pursued her, forcibly brought her back, and continued the assault using clenched fists.
In a particularly cruel act, he poured hot burning ash onto her left leg and thigh. Her cries for help eventually attracted neighbours, who intervened and restrained Dube from further attacking her. The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
Nyathi sustained severe injuries to her head, face, neck, arms and legs. A medical report confirming the extent of her injuries was presented in court as evidence.
Passing judgment, the magistrate condemned Dube’s actions as inexcusable, despite his bizarre claims of spiritual influence, and warned that domestic violence would not be tolerated in any form.
