Son beats up mum, orders her out of home

man beats mother

A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo’s Tshabalala suburb last week went berserk and assaulted his 47-year-old mother and niece before kicking them out of their home, a court heard.

Kudzanayi Bhamu of 7555/16 Tshabalala pleaded guilty when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa, last Friday, for contravening Section 3(1) (a) of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 9:26, which is physical abuse.

He was remanded in custody to 24 February. The prosecutor, Mr Misheck Sithole, told the court that on 17 February this year at around 10pm Bhamu allegedly instructed his nine-year-old niece to make the bed for him, as he wanted to sleep.

An argument between Bhamu and his niece ensued soon after she had completed making the bed. Bhamu armed himself with a stick and assaulted the girl.

The girl is reported to have tried to run away to seek refuge from her grandmother in the bedroom but failed as he blocked her. The accused is the girl’s uncle.

Bhamu allegedly continued assaulting her with open hands and also grabbed an empty bottle and hit her on the arm. Disturbed by what was taking place Bhamu’s mother, Ms Beauty Sibanda, came out of her bedroom to rescue her niece from further beatings.

She, however, got more than what she had bargained for as she ended up in the crossfire. The court further heard that Bhamu started slapping the old woman.

As if it was not enough, Bhamu took a knobkerrie and threatened to inflict more pain on her. He allegedly started chasing everyone out of the house claiming that all the property was his.

The court heard that the mother had to order everyone out of the house to a relative’s house for temporary refuge before she went to report the matter at Tshabalala police station leading to Bhamu’s arrest.

The niece told the court that although she did not sustain visible injuries she was having a headache.