Two Zimbabwean siblings have been sentenced to nine years in prison for slaughtering their brother’s ox during a funeral without his consent. The funeral was for one of their siblings.
Rassson Hove, 38, and Moses Mudzingwa, 31, both from Mangunye Village, were attending a funeral at their brother’s homestead on 10 November when the incident occurred.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) described the events in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Hove and Mudzingwa accused their brother of bewitching the deceased sibling,” the NPAZ stated. The accusation led to a heated argument.
The complainant, feeling threatened, fled his homestead. According to the NPAZ, “Hove and Mudzingwa unlawfully entered the complainant’s kraal and slaughtered one of his oxen.”
The slaughtered ox, valued at US$500, was partly cooked and served to mourners at the funeral. The remainder of the meat was left in the complainant’s bedroom.
Local media outlet New Ziana reported that the brothers’ actions were without the complainant’s permission. “The owner of the ox was not consulted and discovered the slaughter after returning home,” the report detailed.
The case was heard at the Gweru Magistrates’ Court, where both men received a sentence of 10 years in prison. However, the court suspended one year of their sentence on the condition that they pay US$500 compensation to their brother. Each sibling is required to contribute US$250 towards the payment.
“This should serve as a deterrent to others,” a court official commented. “Families need to resolve disputes amicably and avoid such drastic actions.” (iharare.com)
