The Sunday Mail
Yvonne Mutava
A 34-year-old Budiriro man has been brought before the courts for allegedly biting his mother-in-law’s hand following a misunderstanding over custody of his child. Arthur Katamba of 6168 Budiriro 5, Harare, pleaded not guilty to physical abuse charges after appearing before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo last week.
According to the State, Katamba went to his mother-in-law, Martha Ndamba’s place of residence on New Year’s Day and insisted on taking his child.
Katamba said his wife, Sarah, had ran away from their home, taking the minor with her.
“Ndamba asked Katamba to return later upon receiving a call from his father-in-law who was not around at that time.
“This did not go down well with Katamba who then tried to take the child by force, thereby creating a misunderstanding which saw him biting Ndamba’s left hand fore-finger. She sustained a cut.”
The court heard that Ndamba was rescued by her nephew only identified as Brian and her daughter Sarah (Katamba’s wife).
In his defence, Katamba said he was the one assaulted by his wife and mother-in-law, leaving him with an injury on his head and a swollen forehead.
“They are liars, my mother-in-law brought a cooking stick and they used it to assault me,” he argued.
Katamba’s wife admitted to assaulting him with the cooking stick but said that was meant to save her child and mother.
Mr Mapfumo dismissed the case, citing it was riddled with many inconsistencies.
