Sharon Jiyamwa
Herald reporter
A 35-YEAR-OLD man from Hatcliffe, Harare, will perform 140 hours of unpaid work after being convicted of physically assaulting his 62-year-old mother following a heated row over a mobile phone.
Ivor Muwati appeared in court on charges of assaulting his mother, Cecilia Muwati.
The court heard that on October 11, 2026, at around 3pm, the complainant and the accused were at home when the mother demanded the return of a cellphone belonging to her granddaughter, Samantha Marichambo.
The mobile phone had been taken by the accused, and Samantha’s mother had tasked her mother with retrieving it.
When the accused refused to hand over the phone, an altercation broke out.
The State outlined that Muwati turned violent, assaulted his mother all over her body, and grabbed her by the neck while threatening to kill her.
In addition to the assault, court records revealed that he violated a protection order previously issued against him by the civil court in favour of the complainant.
The order strictly prohibited him from harassing, threatening, insulting, destroying property, and entering the complainant’s house.
When asked why he committed the offence, the accused stated that it was a mistake and that he regrets his actions.
The attack was stopped when his sister-in-law, Magret Marapira (27), intervened and restrained him, allowing the elderly woman to escape.
Following his arrest, Muwati was found guilty and sentenced to seven months in prison; however, three months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining four months were suspended on condition that he completes 140 hours of community service at Borrowdale Police Station, commencing October 23, 2026. The court ordered that the community service be completed within six weeks.
