A CHIPINGE nurse has been dragged to court for assaulting his terminally-ill second wife, resulting in her sustaining serious injuries after she was involved in a dispute with his mother.
BY RICHARD MUPONDE
Charles Sithole Chikwanda (46) of Chief Mutema and employed at Javen Gate Clinic, denied the assault charges when he appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware. He was remanded to January 30 for trial.
In his defence Chikwanda, represented by lawyers Mhungu and Associates, said his wife, Tsitsi Rufusha, was abusing the criminal justice system to settle a family dispute.
He said their relationship has been acrimonious of late, but denied assaulting her.
Chikwanda said on November 8, he advised his wife not to disrespect his mother by poking her.
“He was not physical at all or in anyway because he knows and appreciates that his wife is of ill-health as she suffered some form of stroke. He will state he would have no reason to assault her at all, knowing her condition,” Chikwanda said through his lawyers.
Prosecutor Shamiso Ncube told the court that on November 8, Rufusha was at their homestead when Chikwanda assaulted her with fists, booted feet and a chair all over her body during a domestic dispute. She sustained serious injuries and reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.
