Harare (New Ziana) – A Kwekwe cemetery attendant has been fined US$300, and ordered to perform 315 hours of community service for disorderly conduct, grave desecration and threats of violence.
Obed Masarakufa (39), who is employed as a caretaker at Kwekwe Cemetery, was convicted by the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court on one count of disorderly conduct, two counts of violating graves and another count of making threats of violence.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) in a post on X, the charges against Masarakufa arose from an incident on August 5 when he blocked the complainant from entering Kwekwe Cemetery to check on a tombstone.
Later on August 26, Masarakufa defaced pictures on two tombstones following the altercation with the complainant and on September 11, he approached the complainant’s shop and threatened to assault her.
Masarakufa was fined US$100 or face 30 days imprisonment for disorderly conduct, US$200 for making threats of violence and 12 months’ imprisonment for desecrating graves. The court, however, conditionally suspended three months of the jail term for five years and the remaining nine months on condition he undertakes 315 hours of community service.
Meanwhile, the Mutare Magistrates Court has ordered that a 30-year-old mother who filmed herself assaulting her 11-month-old baby be mentally examined by two doctors to ascertain her mental state before she could be sentenced.
The woman from Chief Zimunya area, Mutare pleaded guilty and was convicted for contravening the Children’s Protection and Adoption Act.
The charges arose from an incident on October 11 in which she laid the baby on the floor facing downwards before assaulting her using a stick several times, ordering her to crawl.
She recorded a video assaulting the complainant and later sent it to the baby’s father. The matter came to light when the video went viral on social media and the police was alerted.
In mitigation before sentence, the woman submitted that she suffers from an undisclosed mental disorder prompting the court to remand her in custody to October 30 pending an examination by two doctors in terms of the Mental Health Act.
New Ziana
