Woman sentenced for stabbing husband in domestic dispute over food

A woman from Hwange has been arrested and sentenced for stabbing her husband during a domestic dispute over food. The incident, which escalated into physical violence, resulted in charges under the Domestic Violence Act.

The altercation occurred on the evening of September 29, 2024, around 7:30 PM. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a verbal argument between the couple over a meal turned violent. The woman reportedly stabbed her husband on his left elbow with a kitchen knife. She further assaulted him by striking his mouth with a dinner plate and hitting him repeatedly with enamel cups, causing a deep cut on his elbow and a swollen upper lip.

The husband, injured and seeking justice, took the matter to court.

The Hwange Magistrates’ Court, after reviewing the evidence, sentenced the woman to 12 months of imprisonment. However, six months of the sentence were suspended for five years, provided she does not commit any further offences during that time. The remaining six months were converted into 210 hours of community service, allowing her to avoid immediate incarceration.