Colletta Dube
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
A Victoria Falls man has been sentenced to an effective 10 months in prison after he was convicted of physically abusing his wife in a dispute over a shared cellphone.
Never Makoni (48), of Chinotimba, appeared before the Victoria Falls Magistrates Court on charges of contravening Section 3(1)(a) as read with Section 4(1) of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:16, which criminalises physical abuse within domestic relationships .
The court heard that on June 28, 2026, at around 9pm, Makoni and his wife, Thembi Ndlovu, had a misunderstanding over why she was refusing to give him her cellphone.
“The accused then proceeded to hit the complainant with a snooker stick several times all over her body
“The complainant reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person,” reads the court papers
The court heard that the complainant was medically examined, and a medical report was produced as evidence during the trial .
The court heard that both Makoni and Ndlovu are unemployed and reside together at the same house in Chinotimba, Victoria Falls.
Passing sentence, Magistrate Ms Fadzai Dzimiri said the use of a weapon in a domestic dispute was an aggravating factor.
Makoni was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.
Ms Dzimiri emphasised that domestic violence remains a serious offence that will attract severe penalties.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi