adminChipinge Correspondent—
| BURNING his neighbour’s house accusing him of encroaching into his stand landed a Chipinge man in trouble after he was convicted of the offence. |
Aaron Mlambo of Chitsimba Village under Chief Mapungwana’s area pleaded guilty to malicious damage to property charges when appeared before senior Chipinge magistrate, Mr Noah Gwatidzo on Monday. He was remanded in custody to today (Friday) for sentencing. In his defence, Mlambo said his neighbour’s resistance to vacate the stand made him to commit the offence.
“Your Worship, I was left with no option, but to burn the house. My neighbour was not co-operating when we discussed this issue.
“I am pleading with the court to forgive me because if you send to jail my family will suffer,” said Mlambo.
The State led by Mr Witness Nyamundaya said on November 23 at around 9pm, Mlambo visited his neighbour, Sam Simango’s homestead and ordered him to vacate the land. He accused him of encroaching into his stand.
“Mlambo forcibly removed the logs which was supporting the veranda of Simango’s hut. He set the hut ablaze while Simango was inside. Simango managed to escape unhurt. The property destroyed comprised of a trunk full of clothes, travelling bag full of clothes, two Shangani bags full of clothes, five blankets, five pairs of shoes, a pair of gumboots, 2×20-litre buckets full of maize-meal, 4x20l buckets of maize grain, four pots, 14 cups, six plates, grocery, 7x20l empty buckets, one Nokia phone, $52 cash and the building,” said Mr Nyamundaya.
Online Reporter