Man jailed for assaulting wife over supper, phone

Zim Now Writer

A 28-year-old man from Gweru was slapped with eight months in prison over assaulting his 18-year-old wife, following a dispute over supper and a rejected request to see the complainant’s phone.

The man appeared before a Gweru magistrate who charged him for contravening the Domestic Violence Act by physically assaulting his wife.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the incident occurred on May 2, when the accused demanded supper from the complainant who indicated that cooking gas had run out.

The accused requested for the complainant’s phone, which he was refused after which the accused is alleged to have started assaulting his wife with open fists, leading to the complainant reporting the matter.

“A misunderstanding arose between the two and the accused person demanded that he be given the complainant’s mobile phone. The complainant refused to give him the phone and the accused person assaulted her with open hands, booted feet and fists all over the body. The complainant reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person,” the NPAZ said in a statement.

The accused person was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment of which two months were suspended for five years, with a further six months suspended on condition that the accused performed 210 hours of community service.