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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A soldier stationed at HQ 1 Brigade in Harare lost a testicle after a female neighbour hit him with a log when he demanded isitshwala at her homestead.The hungry gunner Godknows Mathe, 29, of Jambezi under Chief Shana was operated on at Colliery Hospital in Hwange to remove the testicle following the attack.

A medical report produced in court showed that the father of one, sustained a swollen right testicle which was removed because of the extent of the damage.

His attacker Monica Ndlovu, 40, pleaded guilty to assault when she appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani on Friday.

Ndlovu will be sentenced on Thursday and is out of custody on free bail. The magistrate demanded a detailed medical report to determine the extent of disability.

In her defence, Ndlovu claimed she acted in self defence as Mathe allegedly charged at her for refusing to give him isitshwala.

“I didn’t just attack him. He came to my homestead as I was cooking and asked for water which I told my children to give him. He then asked for isitshwala and I told him I was still cooking, that is when he started accusing me of being pompous. He picked a wooden stool and hit me on the back after which I stood up and picked a log which I used to hit him,” said a remorseful Ndlovu.

“He immediately left and I didn’t notice that he was hurt. I want to apologise to the complainant, his mother and this court for my actions,” she said.

But Mathe had a different version.

He told the court that he arrived at Ndlovu’s homestead and asked for food as usual but noticed that the accused was in a bad mood.
Mathe said he sat outside with Ndlovu’s husband.

The unexpected attack came when he was sleeping, he told the court.

“I went there and asked for food and her husband told me she was cooking. She also responded saying I should have brought my own mealie-meal. I realized she was in a bad mood and I went outside the hut and sat on a stoop. I had dosed off when she suddenly hit me on my privates. I tried to rise but she hit me for the second time on the same place. I went home and was rushed to hospital where the doctor removed one of my testicles,” said Mathe.

He said his neighbour had rendered him useless as his backbone was painful as well.

“I was supposed to start work on Sunday but I can’t go because I’m in pain. I was seriously injured. I’m useless now because my back is painful and urinating is also  difficult. I still don’t understand why she  tried to kill me,” Mathe said.

Prosecuting, Listen Nare said Ndlovu attacked Mathe on January 24 this year.

“On January 24, the complainant was coming from Chikandakubi Shops and passed by the complainant’s homestead. The accused suddenly appeared holding a log and started to assault him. The complainant wailed as he went to his homestead and was rushed to hospital as he couldn’t sleep due to pain,” he said.

A report was made leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.