CHIEF Ndondo of Mbembesi has appeared in court for
allegedly assaulting a villager with a knobkerrie and tying him to a tree for
six hours after accusing him of failing to attend court meetings.
Mr Dumisani Basil Ndondo (37), who was installed as Chief
Ndondo in October last year, two years after the death of his uncle Dr Neville
Ndondo, is alleged to have hit Mr Even Ndlovu three times on the thighs with a
knobkerrie in April this year.
After assaulting Mr Ndlovu, the chief is alleged to have
then ordered Nzengelani Mpengesi (60), an employee in the Ministry of Rural
Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, to
hit Mr Ndlovu 17 times with the same knobkerrie.
A court heard that Chief Ndondo stepped on Mr Ndlovu’s head
while other villagers held the complainant down as he accused him of
disrespecting him in an incident that occurred at the Chief’s homestead.
Chief Ndondo and Mpengesi pleaded not guilty to assault and
kidnapping before regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza.
Mr Mabeza remanded the duo out of custody to October 11 for
continuation of trial.
Mr Ndlovu said he was assaulted by the chief as punishment
for demeaning him.
“The Chief said I had disrespected him and he used a
knobkerrie to hit me three times while people held me down. Mpengesi assaulted
me after he was given the order by him,” Mr Ndlovu said.
“After the assault Chief Ndondo gave Mpengesi an order to
tie me to a tree with a rope made from goat skin. I was tied facing the tree
for six hours,” he said.
“My father was summoned to the Chief’s homestead and told
that angilayekanga mele ayengilaya katsha, (I am wayward and need to be reined
in).”
Mr Ndlovu said after the assault he struggled to walk and a
cart had to be brought to take him home.
The villager said he had to seek medical attention
following the attack. Prosecuting, Mr Tinashe Dzipe said Chief Ndondo and
Mpengesi assaulted Mr Ndlovu on April 22 at the chief’s homestead.
Mr Dzipe said Chief Ndondo summoned Mr Ndlovu and accused
him of disrespecting him by not attending village meetings.
“He then assaulted him thrice with a knobkerrie on the back
and ordered Mpengesi to assault him 17 times,” Mr Dzipe said.
“After the assault he was tied to a tree for six hours,” he
said. Chronicle
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