The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube
THE headman of Zimnyama area in Mangwe District has appeared in court after attempting to rape a neighbour and robbing her of money amounting to $700.
A naked Nkosilathi Ngwenya (33) broke into the woman’s bedroom, strangled her, bit her on the cheek and then tried to rape her.
The woman wrestled him until he gave up and fled from the house.
Ngwenya, who is known as Headman Mabhunu, appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philemon facing attempted rape and theft charges.
He was freed on $100 bail and will appear in court again on 6 November.
The court heard that the headman last Saturday evening, sneaked into his victim’s bedroom and hid inside until the woman went to sleep.
In the middle of the night the 30-year-old woman woke up and found a naked elderly man forcing himself into her blankets.
It was dark and she could not make out who it was but she tried to break free from the man’s grip but he was too strong for her. The headman allegedly strangled her until she was weak and he bit her on the cheek.
He tried to rape the woman but failed and then fled from the house. The woman alerted her neighbour who reported the matter to the police.
Prosecuting, Mr Clemence Shawarira said the police discovered a cellphone belonging to the headman.
He said the woman searched her house and discovered that some money she had placed in a drawer was missing.
She also realised that some food was missing as well.
“Upon investigating the scene the police discovered Ngwenya’s cellphone in the woman’s bedroom and proceeded to his homestead where they conducted a search.
“The woman also realised $400, P2 000 and R690 was missing from a drawer in her shop,” he said.
Mr Shawarira said the police searched Ngwenya’s homestead and found $225, R69 and P350 hidden beneath his mattress and some groundnuts and round nuts hidden under his bed.
He said the accused person confirmed that the cellphone which was recovered at the woman’s house belonged to him.
In an interview, Chief Wasi under whose jurisdiction Headman Mabhunu’s area falls said the offence which had been committed by Ngwenya came as a shock to the whole community.
“The headman has tarnished the image of traditional leaders in a great way. I wonder what had overcome him but when I talked to him he confessed to having committed the offence
“He just told me that he did not know what had overcome him. His image as a leader of the community has been tainted in a great way. Even if he comes back people would have lost the respect they had for him,” said the chief.
Nkosilathi Ngwenya was installed as Headman Mabhunu at his homestead in Osabeni area in August last year.
