HARARE – An 18-year-old woman from Harare has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating her husband’s suspected mistress using a cooking stick, in a case the court described as extremely degrading and intentional.
Tinotenda Majangara was convicted of aggravated indecent assault after she used a cooking stick to abuse a 17-year-old girl she suspected of having an affair with her husband. The incident left the teenage girl with serious injuries.
The Harare Magistrates’ Court heard that Majangara teamed up with her sister and a friend to confront the complainant at her home. The trio physically assaulted the girl before Majangara committed the offensive act that led to heavy bleeding.
During sentencing, the magistrate said the offence was not only deliberate but also severe in nature, comparing it to rape due to the physical and emotional trauma caused to the victim.
“The nature of the assault was humiliating and brutal. The court cannot ignore the cruelty of the act simply because the accused is a young mother,” the magistrate said.
It was revealed in court that Majangara is the mother of 10-month-old twins. However, the court ruled that her parental responsibilities could not outweigh the seriousness of the offence.
The magistrate emphasized that the sentence should send a message that such forms of violence, particularly those driven by jealousy or revenge, are unacceptable in society.
The complainant was treated for internal injuries and testified that the incident left her physically hurt and emotionally broken. Police investigations confirmed the extent of the injuries, and Majangara was arrested shortly after the assault.
