In a deeply disturbing incident, a 48-year-old woman from Matikiti Village in Inyathi, Matabeleland North province, has appeared in court on charges of brutally assaulting her 14-year-old stepson. Ntombikayise Dube faced the accusation of assaulting the young boy with a broomstick on his face, following a disagreement over firewood.
During the court hearing before Inyathi magistrate Ropafadzo Manyande, Dube pleaded not guilty to the assault charge. She was remanded in custody until her next court appearance scheduled for November 1.
The distressing incident unfolded when the boy, Mlungisi Mnkandla, allegedly declined his stepmother’s request to fetch firewood. Mlungisi cited exhaustion from his daily chores and schoolwork as the reason for his refusal.
Dhlamini, says the prosecution, tried to load the gun but also noted that there was a problem and the two men attempted to fix the problem.
In the process, Chivanganye “squeezed the trigger and shot Dhlamini once on the stomach and he fell down,” said Zinyandu. He was rushed to hospital where he later died.
Chivanganye, who is represented by Brighton Sadowera, intends to enter a guilty plea at the start of his trial. He will tell the court that he was unaware that Dhlamini had turned off the safety pin.
Source:MyZimbabwe
