AN HIV-positive Mberengwa man burnt down a neighbour’s homestead to ashes accusing him of hiding his medical cards to prevent him from accessing anti-retroviral drugs. OWN CORRESPONDENT
Richard Shoko (23) of Duvai village under Chief Mataruse appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Sangster Tavengwa on Thursday facing charges of malicious damage to property as defined in Section 140 of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9;23.
It was the State’s case that on June 16, Shoko went to his neighbour Stone Hove’s homestead, who he suspected of hiding his medical cards to prevent him from collecting ARV drugs at a local clinic.
The State said when Shoko got to Hove’s homestead, he revealed the purpose of his visit since the latter was away.
The court heard that Shoko then picked up a burning log and torched Hove’s three huts to ashes destroying property worth $350.
An unidentified villager alerted Hove that his homestead was on fire and he found Shoko still at his homestead watching the burning huts.
A report was made at Buchwa Police Station, leading to Shoko’s arrest.
The magistrate asked for a medical examination to be conducted on Shoko to ascertain his mental status.
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Shoko was remanded out of custody to tomorrow.
