Machete attack. . . Woman struck after she was ‘caught with a secret lover’

Danisa Masuku

FATIMA Mabodo (41) of Mpalawani Village, Fort Rixon in Matabeleland South Province almost lost her arm after her ex-lover violently struck her with a machete for allegedly dumping him.

The incident which has left community members shell-shocked happened last week on Thursday and was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Stanford Shumba (50).

Shumba appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Musaiwona Shotgame charged with attempted murder.

He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a full trial and sentenced to five years imprisonment of which one year was suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Shumba will serve an effective four years behind bars.

In his defence he said: “I was in love with Fatima up to the time of the occurrence of the incident.

“I went to her home shortly after 11pm intending to sleep there. I found her with another man sitting on the bed while kissing.

“Her boyfriend reached for an iron rod intending to strike me and I also tried to strike him with a machete.

“Unfortunately Fatima blocked it with her hand and she was struck in the process.”

He added: “I got heart-broken when I found her with another man because she (Fatima) had infected me with a sexually transmitted infection (STI).”

It was the State’s case that on the day in question Shumba went to his ex-lover’s home and when he got there he forced himself inside the room without knocking and found Fatima applying lotion on her body.

The court heard that he was carrying a machete and threatened to dismember her so that there would be no other man who would admire her.

He tried to strike her on the head with a machete but Fatima blocked it with her hand and she was struck on the arm in the process.

After committing the heinous act Shumba fled from the scene.

Fatima was rushed to Zvishavane District Hospital for medical attention.

Shumba was later arrested.