Man Fined for Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend
A 24-year-old man from Plumtree, Zimbabwe faced charges for assaulting his ex-girlfriend on two occasions in August. Godknows Ndlovu appeared before the Plumtree Magistrate court after Brenda Mdlongwa reported the abuse to police.
According to court documents, Ndlovu and Mdlongwa had argued after she told him on August 26th that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him. Angry over the breakup, Ndlovu confiscated her cell phone. Later that day, he returned and threatened Mdlongwa with beating her with an electric cord. He proceeded to slap her in the face, causing her to flee the house. Ndlovu chased her down and forcibly dragged her back inside.
On September 5th, the former couple had been drinking at a nightclub. When Mdlongwa began speaking with a friend, Ndlovu became upset and another fight ensued. On their way home, Ndlovu slapped Mdlongwa repeatedly in the face, leaving her with a badly injured eye. She sought medical attention for her injuries.
Ndlovu pled guilty to physically abusing Mdlongwa under the Domestic Violence Act. The magistrate fined him US$300 or two months in jail. An additional three months in prison were suspended for five years on the condition he commits no further offenses involving abuse. While Ndlovu claimed the altercations stemmed from Mdlongwa ending her pregnancy, the court ruled his violent actions against his ex-girlfriend were unacceptable and warranted punishment.
