A Chitungwiza man, Innocent Sean Jiyengwa (23), stands accused of a brutal assault on his girlfriend, Kuzivakwashe Dzimba (25), culminating in the horrific act of cutting her genitals with a knife. The incident, which unfolded on the evening of 29 December 2024, allegedly stemmed from Jiyengwa’s enraged jealousy after discovering Dzimba in a car with another man.
The details of the assault paint a disturbing picture of escalating violence. Jiyengwa, overcome with fury at the sight of Dzimba with another individual, reportedly reacted violently. He allegedly jumped onto the bonnet of the car, smashing the windscreen before forcing his way inside. There, he unleashed a brutal attack, punching and kicking Dzimba.
The violence didn’t end there. Jiyengwa is accused of stripping Dzimba to her underwear before dragging her to her home, where the assault continued with savage intensity. He allegedly used various household items – pots, pans, and plastic chairs – as weapons, raining blows upon Dzimba. The culmination of this horrific attack was the alleged cutting of Dzimba’s genitals with a kitchen knife.
In her testimony, Dzimba recounted the harrowing ordeal: “After pulling me from the car, he told me to go to my house where he continued to assault me with household items such as pots, pans and plastic chairs. After that, he made me lie on my back and then cut more flesh from my private parts. I am in a lot of pain and I am emotionally traumatised because people in the community are calling me a prostitute who destroys men.”
However, Dzimba clarified the situation surrounding her encounter in the car. She explained that the man she was with was a friend of Jiyengwa’s who was holding onto a jacket she had forgotten on Christmas Day. “I only managed to escape while I was lying down after being cut when Jiyengwa went outside to look for another object to assault me with. I then reported the matter to the police,” she stated.
The assault extended beyond physical violence. Dzimba also alleged that Jiyengwa stole US$193 from her bedroom after the attack. Graphic evidence of her injuries, including photographs taken after the incident, was presented in court.
Jiyengwa appeared before Magistrate Alois Midzi at the Chitungwiza Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of domestic violence (Contravening Section 3(1)(a) ARW Section 4(1) of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:16). While he pleaded guilty to assaulting Dzimba with his hands and a stick, he denied stealing her money. His statement to the court was succinct: “The charge of assaulting the complainant with hands and a stick, I plead guilty, but I did not steal her money.”
Magistrate Midzi remanded Jiyengwa in custody, pending a further court appearance. This case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the urgent need for stronger measures to protect victims. The brutality of the attack, and the chilling detail of the genital mutilation, has sent shockwaves through the community and underscores the severity of the crime. The case continues.
