woman spared jail after stabbing husband over school fees

Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]

A 43-year-old Bulawayo woman who stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife during a domestic dispute over school fees has been sentenced to community service.

Francina Nyathi, of Makokoba suburb, was convicted of physical abuse as defined in Section 3(1)(a) read with Section 4(1) of the Domestic Violence Act when she appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Challenge Mahembe.

Nyathi was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, with six months suspended for five years, on condition she does not commit a similar offence during that period. The remaining 18 months were wholly suspended on condition she completes 630 hours of community service at Mzilikazi Police Station within 18 weeks.

Prosecuting, Ms Josephine Gurazhira told the court that on November 30 last year, Nyathi and her husband, Fayila Chimwoyo, were at their home in Makokoba when a dispute arose over the payment of school fees for their child.

“The accused took a brick and struck the complainant twice on the back before taking a kitchen knife and stabbing him once on the left wrist and twice near the right eye,” said Ms Gurazhira.

The court heard that Chimwoyo sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment. A medical report confirming the injuries was produced in court as an exhibit.

The matter was later reported to the police, leading to Nyathi’s arrest.