BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A Victoria Falls man has been ordered to pay a fine of $8 000 after he assaulted his 17-year-old girlfriend whom he accused of sleeping with other men in exchange for money.
Thandolwenkosi Mathe (20) of Lupinyu village under Chief Mvuthu was convicted on his own plea of guilt when he appeared before local magistrate Linda Dzvene facing assault charges last Tuesday.
Prosecutors said on May 29, at around 3 AM at Lupinyu Business Centre, Mathe accused girl of sleeping around with other men and started assaulting her.
He told Dzvene that on the day he assaulted the girl had slept with another man while she kept him waiting.
“I assaulted her because she was now being hired by people for sexual activities at the business centre,” Mathe said.
“One the day, she had kept me waiting and went on to sleep with someone else there, so I was angry.”
In passing sentence, Dzvene said although she had considered that Mathe was a first offender who was also an unemployed father, cautioning him only would send wrong signals.
“Although no injuries were sustained, cases of domestic violence are on the increase here in Victoria Falls (and) there is need for stiff sentences in order to deter the accused,” the magistrate said.
“A custodial sentence is harsh taking into account that the accused person is a first offender and that he pleaded guilty to his offence.
“I have also disregarded community service taking into consideration that no injuries were sustained as the result of the assault as indicated by the affidavit written by the complainant.
“It is my view that a fine conjoined with a suspended imprisonment will deter accused person from committing similar offences in future.”
Mathe was order ordered to pay the money by July 27, failure to which he will face two months imprisonment.