A Bulawayo man demanded his lobola back as ransom to “release” his wife from their matrimonial home after she threatened to divorce him for being violent.
Prosper Mshangwe (26) from Sunnyside suburb sternly ordered his wife Melinda Karimbanemoyo (26)’s parents to first refund him his lobola money before he allows her to walk out of their matrimonial home.
This came to light when Mshangwe appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Noma Ncube charged with physical abuse.
He pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which four months imprisonment were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remainder of eight months imprisonment were further suspended on condition that he completes 280 hours of community service at Thomas Rudland Primary School.
It was proved in court that on 3 December 2020 and at around 1PM, Mshangwe came home from an unknown destination. His wife then told him that she was no longer interested in him because of his violent behaviour.
The court heard that Mshangwe responded to his wife saying if she wanted him to release her, her parents should first pay him back his lobola.
In a fit of anger, Mshangwe started assaulting his two-year-old daughter using open hands.
The court further heard that at around 5PM when Mshangwe’s mother came back from work she found him in the same violent state, and she tried to calm him down but to no avail.
It is reported that Mshangwe then forcibly took the knife which his wife was clasping in her hands and threatened to fatally stab everyone at home.
Fearing that Mshangwe would live true to his threats, his wife reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest and subsequent appearance in court.
