Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
A 67-year-old woman from Umguza District is lucky to have escaped a custodial sentence for assaulting her husband’s second wife, who she had not met before after finding the pair in bed.
Yutah Nkomo, of Village 3, Kernberg, was convicted of assault when she appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Sibonginkosi Mkandla. She had initially been charged with attempted murder, but the charge was later reduced. The court sentenced Nkomo to six months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence during that period.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that on 22 March at about 10pm, Nkomo went to her husband’s workplace at Mpofu Compound, Master Cecil Mine, in Umguza.
Upon arrival, she found her husband in bed with the complainant, Debra Ndlovu, who is his second wife in a polygamous marriage.
A heated argument ensued between the two women before Nkomo picked up an unidentified object and struck Ndlovu once on the back of the head, causing a deep cut.
Ndlovu was rushed to hospital for medical treatment. The court heard that although Nkomo was aware of her husband’s second marriage but the two women had never met before the incident.
In her defence, Nkomo admitted to the assault but said she could not identify the weapon she used.
“I just attacked her after finding her with my husband hugging each other while they were sleeping on the bed, but I am not sure of the weapon that I used,” she said.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Nkomo’s arrest and a medical report was produced in court as part of the evidence.
