adminTichaona Muzembi of Rusununguko Village, Lynwood area, learnt from his wife that her father possessed African magic that allowed one to have sex with women without their knowledge, known as mubobobo.
Muzembi’s wife also told him that his father-in-law also bewitched other family members, resulting in most of them becoming sterile.
Muzembi appeared at the Mvuma magistrate’s courts on Monday before provincial magistrate Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa facing a charge of assault.
Muzembi pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 12 months in prison with labour of which four months were suspended for five years on condition of good bahaviour.
Mr Andrew Marimo for the State, said in December last year, Muzembi had an argument with his wife over their failure to bear children.
He said Muzembi’s wife is the daughter of the complainant, Mr Spinora Dzingira, hence Muzembi was the complainant’s son-in-law.
Mr Marimo told the court that Muzembi quizzed his wife and demanded answers as to why they were failing to bear children.
He said Muzembi vigorously enquired about the cause of their problem and the wife eventually gave in and told him that her father, Mr Dzingira, used mubobobo and that he also had some African magic that he used to bewitch other members of his family.
Mr Marimo said all this made Muzembi very angry and on 9 December last year at about 10am, he armed himself with a catapult, knobkerrie, axe, and a switch before heading to his father-in-law’s place, which was about 100m away.
He said before Muzembi left for his father-in-law’s place, he told his cousin and nephew that he was going on a mission to assault Mr Dzingira.
The court heard that when Muzembi arrived at Mr Dzingira’s homestead, he found his father-in-law busy with some household chores within the yard.
Mr Marimo said Muzembi calmly greeted his father-in-law:
“Tisvikewo baba!” and the complainant responded in line with the dictates of African culture: “Svika hako mwanangu (you are welcome, my son).”
He said it was at this stage that Muzembi told the complainant that he should not call him his son on that day as their relationship had come to an end.
Muzembi also told the complainant that he had come to assault him and teach him a lesson in manners.
Mr Marimo said Muzembi went on to assault his father-in-law twice with a sharp instrument and he fell to the ground.
He said the complainant sustained a deep cut on the head and serious injuries resulting in blood oozing out from the open wound.
Mr Marimo told the court that the complainant’s wife came out of the house and pleaded with Muzembi not to assault Mr Dzingira any further.
He said the complainant was at that stage kneeling near the door and was at the mercy of Muzembi.
Mr Marimo said Muzembi’s cousin and nephew also came to the rescue of Mr Dzingira and restrained him from further assaulting the complainant.
During cross-examination, Muzembi told the court that he was so angry after learning about his father-in-law’s magic that he wanted to inflict more pain on the complainant.
He also admitted to assaulting Mr Dzingira and told the court that if he had not been restrained, he was going to inflict further harm on the complainant.
Muzembi did not explain to the court the reason for assaulting his father-in-law.
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