Harare: A former Midlands State University (MSU) lecturer, Faith Gudo, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the murder of his neighbour, David Dube. The sentence was handed down by High Court judge Justice Esther Muremba, who found Gudo guilty following a trial in which he denied the charges.
Gudo, 52, was a lecturer and programme coordinator at MSU and the owner of Wildbeast Farm in Chivhu. The incident that led to Dube’s death occurred on April 11, 2024, when Gudo confronted Dube at his homestead, accusing him of letting his cattle stray into his field.
The confrontation quickly escalated into a fistfight, and in a moment of rage, Gudo picked up a stone and struck Dube on the head. Dube fell unconscious, and Gudo rushed him to Chivhu General Hospital. However, Dube’s condition deteriorated, and he was transferred to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare, where he died on April 20, 2024.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Gudo was the aggressor in the altercation and that he had used a lethal weapon, a stone, to target a vulnerable part of Dube’s body. The prosecution argued that the assault was over a trivial matter that could have been resolved without violence.
The prosecution also highlighted the devastating impact of Dube’s death on his family, particularly his wife and children. The victim impact statement from Dube’s wife revealed that she and her children were still in immense pain and trauma, having witnessed the assault on their breadwinner.
“They lost their breadwinner, leading to poverty; the two older children have dropped out of school and now live with their grandmother, while Dube’s widow struggled to feed them and pay for their education,” the prosecution said.
In mitigation, Gudo’s legal counsel argued that his client was a hardworking farmer who had repeatedly suffered crop damage caused by Dube’s cattle, leading to significant financial losses and frustration. While this did not justify the actions that resulted in the loss of life, the defence counsel said it provided context for Gudo’s state of mind.
The defence also pointed out that Gudo was a first-time offender and a distinguished lecturer who had contributed significantly to both national and international academic communities. They urged the court to consider the shortest possible sentence, arguing that the mitigating circumstances far outweighed the aggravating ones.
However, the defence counsel did not give an indication of what he considered to be the shortest possible sentence.
Justice Muremba, in her sentencing remarks, acknowledged that Gudo had helped the deceased after realising his wrongdoing, covered funeral expenses, and paid half the compensation demanded by Dube’s family. However, she also emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the need to deter future acts of violence.
“A reduced sentence might send the wrong message to society, suggesting that providing assistance and compensation to the deceased’s family could result in a very lenient punishment,” she said. “It is crucial for society to maintain respect for human life and the decency to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. Accordingly, the accused is sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.”
The judge also noted that while there was evidence suggesting that Gudo had initially intended to report the incident to the chairman, indicating a lack of premeditation, Dube had followed Gudo, leading to the unplanned use of a stone.
“Generally, premeditated murders are considered more heinous than spontaneous killings,” Justice Muremba said.
