Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A NYANGA woman who bit her co-wife in a polygamous marriage leaving her with serious wounds on the forehead escaped jail time when she was sentenced to perform community service.
Nunurai Makaza 28 of Taibu Village under Chief Katerere was charged with physical abuse as defined in Section 3(1) (a) as read with Section 4 of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5.16 that prohibits violence among family members.
Makaza pleaded guilty to biting and assaulting her co-wife Loveness Nyakabwi (26) when she appeared before Nyanga magistrate Notebulgar Muchineripi. Ms Muchineripi convicted Makaza of the offence and sentenced her to eight months imprisonment, which she wholly suspended on condition that she performs 210 hours of community service at Avilla Mission Hospital.
Prosecutor Nyasha Sesenyai told the court that Makaza became violent when Nyakabwi asked her to return her carpet.
“The accused person and the complainant stay together and are co-wives in a polygamous marriage. On April 27 2026, Makaza and Nyakabwi were at home when the complainant approached the accused requesting for her carpet, which was being used by the accused. Misunderstanding then arose and Nyakabwi became violent.
“The accused person charged towards the complainant and hit the complainant twice on the face with an open hand.
‘‘The accused person went on to bite the complainant on the forehead, and the complainant sustained a deep cut on the forehead.
“The matter was reported to police leading to the arrest of the accused person. The complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination,” said Sesenyai.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter a Nyanga woman has been convicted for harassing her ex-husband by forcibly entering his bedroom and shouting obscenities at him in violation of protection order.
Getrude Kutsanza 51 of Tadoka Village, Chief Hata was charged with two counts of failure to comply with terms of a protection order as defined in Section 10 (7) of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5.16. She pleaded guilty to harassing her ex-husband Ben Sithole (64).
Magistrate Notebulgar Muchineripi convicted her on both counts and sentenced her to four months imprisonment which was wholly suspended for the next five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.
Prosecutor Nyasha Sesenyai told the court that, “Accused person is the complainant’s former wife. In October 2025 protection order was granted by the Nyanga Magistrates Court under case number PR 55/25. Which ordered the accused person not to insult, threaten, harass and to observe peace towards the complainant.
“On April 4 2026, accused entered complainant’s bedroom and started insulting him saying “you are a prostitute, your manhood does not tire having ladies,” .On May 3 2026 accused again entered the complainant’s bedroom and uttered the same words thereby failing to comply with the protection order,” said Sesenyai.
