Sukoluhle Ndlovu
A 30-year-old woman from Ota village under Chief Mafala in Zvishavane has been slapped with a three months jail term after she went berserk and smashed her mother-in-law’s windows after she accused her of witchcraft.
The matter came to light when the woman, Nancy Moyo, appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga facing one count of malicious damage to property.
She pleaded guilty to the charge.
In mitigation, Moyo told the court that she was angry after her mother-in-law called her a witch.
“Your worship, I admit that l committed the crime and may this honourable court be lenient on me as l am a first time offender. I smashed the windows as l failed to control my anger after the complainant called me a witch,” she said.
In passing sentence, Wochiunga said although Moyo had been provoked, she had no right to act in the manner that she did.
“This honourable court finds you guilty of intended malicious damage to property. Although you were provoked, there was no reason for you to smash the windows. You could have walked away instead.
“You’re therefore sentenced to three months in jail. Two months are, however, suspended because you pleaded guilty and did not waste the court’s time, and also on condition you pay $500 before 29 November this year,” said Wochiunga.
Moyo will therefore serve an effective one month behind bars.
During the month of October, Moyo had a misunderstanding with her mother-in-law Jane Maphosa.
The misunderstanding resulted in an argument and in the heat of the argument, Maphosa accused Moyo of being a witch.
The accusations did not go down well with Moyo who retaliated by damaging 18 window panes at Maphosa’s homestead.
The matter was reported to police leading to Moyo’s arrest.
