ENRAGED at having his sex advances spurned, a man from Zano in Masvingo vented his
anger and fatally attacked his uncle for attempting to protect the woman of his attentions,
who he was harassing for turning him down.
Respect Dube, (23), of Mumbembi Village, Chief Chikwanda, in Masvingo but resident in
Mkwasine, Chiredzi, where he was employed as a cane cutter, was jailed for an effective two
years for culpable homicide by High Court Judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze.
Dube, who was initially charged with the murder of 36-year-old Khosi Majuta pleaded to a
lesser charge of culpable homicide. Dube and Majuta, an uncle from his mother’s side, who
both stayed in Chipimbi Compound in Mkwasine met last June 2 at Patience Moyana’s
house, where Dube was following up on a love proposal he had made to Moyana’s younger
sister, Takudzwa Makuyana.
Makuyana had earlier spurned Dube’s proposal but told him that they could engage in
transactional sex in exchange for cash. Dube had then offered to bring Makuyana some
groceries instead and the two agreed to the arrangement.
On this particular occasion Dube visited Makuyana and asked for sex but she turned him
down because he had not brought the groceries as agreed.
Dube then started harassing Makuyana for turning him down when she had accepted his gift
of a broiler chicken. It was then that Majuta, who was holding a knife tried to enter the room
where Dube was threatening Makuyana.
Dube cautioned Majuta against entering the room and snatched the knife away and the two
men started wrestling with Majuta demanding back his knife.
Dube then grabbed a glowing splint that he used to strike Majuta twice on the head. Majuta
fell to the ground unconscious but regained consciousness after Dube doused him with a
bucket of water.
Majuta went home but his condition deteriorated compelling Dube, Moyana and Munogwei
Jambaya to take him to Chipiwa Clinic.
Majuta’s condition continued to deteriorate, after which a report was made to Mkwasine
police on June 8 to enable him to be admitted at Chiredzi General Hospital. He was
transferred to Masvingo General Hospital, where he eventually died.
Post mortem results showed that Majuta had died as a result of a head injury and cervical
spine subluxation.
Dube was sentenced to three years but had one year conditionally suspended for five years.
Mukai Mutume represented the State while Dube was defended by E.Y. Zvanaka of Saratoga
Makausi Law Chambers pro deo.