The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana Hwange Correspondent
A DETE man will live to rue the day he beat up a fellow villager following a misunderstanding over $1 he was owed by the villager’s daughter-in-law after he was ordered to pay $120 to meet medical expenses for the victim.
Emmanuel Lupondo (48) from Sianyanga Village was fined $50 by Hwange magistrate Miss Sharon Rosemani for assaulting Timothy Nyathi following a misunderstanding over $1 that was owed by Nyathi’s daughter in-law.
Lupondo was ordered to pay $70 to cover medical expenses and transport to St Patrick’s Hospital in Hwange meaning he will cough up $120 for the $1 he desperately wanted.
Lupondo who pleaded guilty to assault told the court that he was angered by Nyathi’s response as he felt he was the one who was supposed to take responsibility for his children’s actions including her daughter-in-law’s debt.
“Your Worship, I am sorry for my actions but I was agitated by the complainant’s responses which lacked courtesy. I expected him to be responsible enough to take care of his children’s actions, in this case his daughter-in-law. May the court forgive me for assaulting him,” pleaded Lupondo.
Prosecuting, Mr Tinomupeyi Mbiza told the court that on 19 January this year, Lupondo went to Sianyanga Business Centre where he met Nyathi and asked about the $1 that he was owed by his daughter-in-law. A misunderstanding ensued between the two as Nyathi professed ignorance before advising Lupondo to approach the person who owed him. This did not go down well with Lupondo who pushed Nyathi to the ground before unleashing a barrage of fists.
Nyathi who sustained a swollen face and a cut on the lips was saved by fellow villagers who rushed to restrain Lupondo. The matter was reported to the police while Nyathi was referred to hospital for medical treatment.
