Sundaymail Editor
A RUSAPE woman has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for murdering her aunt during a domestic dispute over electricity usage.
The incident occurred at their shared family home in Vengere last year.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe confirmed 26-year-old Thandizike Manhini’s conviction by the Mutare High Court.
Initially, Manhini had pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.
The fatal altercation began when Manhini accused Dorothy Matongo (48) of misusing electricity.
The argument escalated and Manhini grabbed Matongo by the neck before stabbing her once in the chest with a knife.
Matongo collapsed outside the house and bled profusely.
She was taken to Rusape General Hospital and then referred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare but died on the way, near Chipembere area. — Manica Post
***************
Thieves complain of dishonesty after botched donkey theft
A dramatic courtroom scene unfolded in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province, as two men arrested for stealing the village head’s donkeys claimed they were cheated by the buyer.
Sijabulile Sibanda (21) and Nkanyiso Ndlovu (25) expressed remorse in court, complaining to the magistrate that they were shortchanged by the individual for whom they had stolen the animals.
“The buyer tricked us; he only gave us a cellphone instead of the agreed funds,” Ndlovu stated.
“Please grant us one last chance. I promise we will not repeat this. I only participated because Ndlovu asked me to come along,” Sibanda pleaded.
Sibanda and Ndlovu appeared before provincial magistrate Abdenico Ndebele on charges of stock theft.
They pleaded guilty.
They each received a 12-month prison sentence, with six months suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining six months were suspended on condition they complete 210 hours of community service.
The court heard that in December 2024, Sibanda and Ndlovu stole two donkeys belonging to the village head from the Ntulani grazing area.
They sold the donkeys, which were later recovered during police investigations.
The stolen beasts of burden were valued at US$300. — Bulawayo Bureau
***************
Satanism scare hits Gwanda school
Mount Cazalet Primary School in Gwanda has been rocked by allegations of Satanism, with reports of learners collapsing and exhibiting unusual behaviour.
Parents are now calling for the removal of the headmistress.
They claim the school’s swimming pool, as well as a teacher’s house, have become a haunt for malevolent forces.
A tense meeting held on March 21 saw parents accusing the school of ignoring a potential “Satanic invasion” as 18 learners have been reportedly experiencing a “mysterious ailment” since January.
Among some of the mysterious occurrences at the school, learners were allegedly “writing in their sleep”, “choking teachers and collapsing in class”, while others “claim to hear demonic whispers about cursed items hidden in the swimming pool”.
School head Siqhubekile Moyo professed ignorance over supernatural activities, which prompted parents to demand her immediate transfer.
A poem allegedly given to Grade Three learners further inflamed tensions.
A stanza in the poem reads: “The aliens took me and I had a shark attack, then the pirates took away my homework and they refused to give me back.”
Parents interpreted this as a “Satanic code”, demanding the school be closed for cleansing, the headmistress be placed on forced leave and school bus funds be redirected towards exorcism.
One parent shared a disturbing account: “My child choked a teacher — now he is dangerous!”
Another stated: “Children sleep through lessons then wake up seemingly possessed!”
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said the school was yet to file a formal report.
However, he pledged: “We will investigate with health experts and community leaders. Psychological support will be provided. Medical explanations will be explored.”
Despite these assurances, parents are demanding immediate action to “purge the demons” before more children are affected. — Bulawayo Bureau
***************
Shameless rapists jailed for child abuse
An eight-year-old girl from Nyanga was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by four perpetrators — three male adults and a teenager — on multiple occasions while walking home from school.
The first perpetrator used an X-rated video clip to lure the girl, and subsequently, the other abusers coerced her into submitting to their sexual demands by threatening to expose her alleged sexual affair with the first perpetrator.
The accused persons, including Justice Nyakuchena (29), were arraigned before magistrate Phethukile Msipa at the Mutare Regional Court, which was sitting on circuit in Nyanga.
Prosecutor Last Goredema highlighted the severity of the crimes committed against the young girl.
The complainant is in Grade Three at a Nyanga school.
The court heard that sometime in April 2024, Nyakuchena approached the complainant, who was in the garden, and asked her to be intimate with him.
She refused.
The accused told the complainant that he was going to reveal to his father that she had slept with Webster Bhurangeti sometime back.
Goredema said Nyakuchena forcibly grabbed the complainant’s hand, dragged her out of the garden to a secluded bush and raped her once.
From that day, Nyakuchena continued to rape the complainant several times on different occasions while on her way from school.
The matter came to light on November 3, 2024, around 5pm, when the complainant’s father observed that she was always returning late from school.
He interrogated his daughter, and she revealed that the accused person raped her on several occasions on different days.
The matter was reported to police in Nyamaropa, leading to Nyakuchena’s arrest.
The victim was taken to Nyanga District Hospital, where she was examined, and the medical report was produced in court as evidence.
During trial, the minor told the court that Webster Bhurangeti (19), Nyakuchena, Wilfred Bhurangeti and a 16-year-old teenager had raped her on different occasions.
Msipa sentenced Nyakuchena to 17 years in jail for the offence.
Webster Bhurangeti also appeared before the same magistrate facing similar rape charges.
The court heard that sometime in April 2024, he approached the minor, who was in the garden, and started showing her X-rated videos that were in his cellphone.
He asked the complainant if she was able to act in the same way, but she told him that she was still too young.
The prosecutor said Bhurangeti forcibly grabbed the minor’s hand, went with her to a secluded nearby bush out of the garden and raped her once.
From that day, he would rape the complainant on several occasions on her way from school.
Msipa sentenced the two brothers, Wilfred and Webster Bhurangeti, to 20 years in jail each for the offences.
She suspended five years.
The teenager rapist was sentenced to five years in jail, which was wholly suspended. — Manica Post
Online Reporter