Knife-wielding man jailed for threatening wife

Leonard Ncube
A VICTORIA Falls man who threatened to stab his wife with a kitchen knife forcing her to seek refuge at a police base on International Women’s Day has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

Chisola Jude Khumalo (35) of 4516 in Chinotimba picked up a kitchen knife which he sharpened on the wall before charging at his wife Zanele Ndlovu, aged 39, while threatening to stab her.

The cause of the fight was not stated in court.

Ndlovu said she had to gather all strength and ran for her dear life when her husband charged at her carrying a knife while threatening to stab her.

She said the sight of her husband sharpening the kitchen knife on the wall scared her to the bone and she ran to the police to file a report.

“I was at home with the accused who is my husband when he came out of the house carrying a knife saying he wanted to stab me with it. He sharpened the knife on the wall and came closer to me saying he was now coming to stab me. It seemed he wanted to throw the knife at me and that’s when I escaped and ran to the police,” said Ndlovu.

Khumalo pleaded guilty to threats of violence when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa.

The magistrate sentenced him to nine months in prison before suspending three months on condition that he does not commit a crime involving violence within the next five years.

The remaining six months were suspended on condition that Khumalo completes 210 hours of community service at Baobab Primary School in the resort town, thereby saving him jail time.

Prosecuting, Asher Chindedza told how Ndlovu ended up at Ezengeni, the common name for police post in Chinotimba.

“On the 8th of March 2021 at 1pm, the accused threatened to stab the complainant with a kitchen knife.

The accused went on to sharpen the knife on the wall and then he charged towards the complainant who managed to escape and reported the matter to the police,” said Chindedza.

March 8 is International Women’s Day, a day to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women globally. It is also a day that brings into focus women’s rights, gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.

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