A MAN from Kariangwe in Binga, who went berserk and struck five cattle belonging to his brother, killing four in the process after accusing his sibling of bewitching his child, was on Tuesday slapped with an effective four-year jail term for malicious damage to property. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Wilson Mwembe (42) was denying the charge when he appeared before Binga resident magistrate Stephen Ndlovu, but he was convicted after a full trial.
Ndlovu sentenced Mwembe to five years in jail, but suspended six months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
A further six months were suspended on condition he compensated his brother Siachivelo Mwembe a sum of $1 600, which is the cost of four beasts he killed.
Ndlovu warned Mwembe to desist from damaging other people’s property unnecessarily, saying cattle were a source of livelihood for many Zimbabweans and killing them was serious as it affected people’s lives.
Mwembe had denied the charge saying he did not kill any cow, but only struck their feet so they could not walk.
“I did not kill any cow. I just only axed their legs such that they were not able to walk,” Mwembe said.
The court heard that on August 8, Mwembe went to his brother’s homestead, but found his wife only. He shouted at her saying her husband was bewitching his child.
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He allegedly drove his brother’s five cattle into the kraal and struck five of them with an axe killing four in the process.
The total cost of the cattle which were killed is $1 600.
