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Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]

A BULAWAYO teenager, Njabulo Moyo (18), from Njube suburb, was on Thursday fined US$200 after an altercation that spiralled out of control, leading to the assault of a female peer.

The incident occurred after a disagreement between the two, stemming from Njabulo posting her photographs on social media without her consent.
In a fit of rage, Njabulo indiscriminately punched the complainant multiple times, pulled her by her dreadlocks, and bit her finger. The victim, who sustained serious injuries, including a swollen mouth, a cut finger, and a bruised eye, was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Njabulo appeared before the Western Commonage provincial resident magistrate, Mr Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe who convicted him of assault under Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
During the trial, the court heard that Njabulo and the victim knew each other through the complainant’s sister. The victim, in her testimony, said that the incident had humiliated her and left her with financial losses, as she had to cover medical bills incurred due to the assault.
In delivering the judgment, Mr Chikwekwe remarked that, despite Moyo being a youth who showed remorse, assault cases among young people were becoming too common.
He stressed the importance of delivering a deterrent sentence to send a clear message to would-be offenders.
“The accused was the aggressor, and his actions were unjustified. Posting the victim’s photos without her consent was a violation, and the assault that followed was an escalation of his disrespect,” said Mr Chikwekwe.
The magistrate said although Njabulo claimed to be a student at Plumtree High School, the court established that this was untrue.
Njabulo was ordered to pay a fine of US$200 or face four months of imprisonment.
“A fine coupled with a wholly suspended term on condition of good behaviour will meet the justice of this case. Accordingly, the accused is sentenced to pay a fine of US$200 or four months of imprisonment,” ruled Mr Chikwekwe.
Additionally, Njabulo was sentenced to two months in jail, wholly suspended for five years, on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence involving violence during that period.
The prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo told the court that the altercation occurred on August 20, around 4 PM, when the complainant saw Njabulo while she was on her way to Entumbane Shopping Mall. She confronted him about the unauthorised posting of her photographs, which led to a heated exchange.
It was during this confrontation that Njabulo lashed out violently, causing the injuries that later led to his arrest.