Musawenkosi Moyo
TWO men from Bubi District in Matabeleland North province, who kidnapped and assaulted two other men after accusing one of them of stealing their donkey, were spared jail agony when they were sentenced each to perform 630 hours of community service.
Joseph Sibanda (60) and Melusi Jele (40) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga facing two counts of kidnapping and one count of malicious damage to property.
They both pleaded not guilty to all counts, but after a full trial, they were each convicted of two counts of kidnapping.
They were each sentenced to two years in prison for each count. Six months of each sentence were suspended on condition that they do not repeat a similar offense within five years.
An additional 18 months of each sentence were suspended on condition that they each perform 630 hours of community service.
They were also ordered to pay a fine of US$100 each for one count of malicious damage to property. Failure to pay the fine will result in a 30-day jail sentence.
The court heard that on 27 December 2023, in Mbembeswana Village 5, Siganda area, Bubi District, Sibanda and Jele, along with several other villagers who are still at large, went to Milton Ndlovu’s homestead and damaged his kitchen hut by pushing, pulling, and taking bricks from the kitchen hut wall after accusing him of stealing their donkey.
It was further heard that after damaging the property, the accused persons went on to assault Khumbulani Mpofu and the man who was with Ndlovu at his house at the time, using the back of an axe and a spear handle.
They then forced the two victims to board a car that was parked outside Ndlovu’s place and drove for 18 hours, continuing to assault the two victims on the road.
The matter came to light when the accused persons stopped at a police roadblock.
Ndlovu damaged the vehicle’s windscreen, jumped through the broken window, and sought help from the police.
He then narrated his ordeal, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
