MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU–The people who decree hatred for women should be removed from a society dominated by them, a High Court judge said on Thursday as he handed down a 50-year jail term to a man convicted of killing one woman and attempting to murder another in a machete rampage.
Justice Munamati Mutevedzi, sitting at the Gweru High Court circuit, sentenced Benjamin Chipapata, 26, of Ngazimbi Village in Mashonaland West, for the murder of Judith Ruzive and the attempted murder of Chido Mkandla outside Mzansi Nite Club in Shurugwi on March 8, 2019.
Prosecuting, Talent Tadenyika told the court that Chipapata, after a dispute with two unidentified men, brandished a machete and declared that he did not want to see any woman near the nightclub.
He then struck Ruzive, 40, repeatedly on the head and body, killing her instantly.
He also attacked Mkandla, 25, hacking her several times on the head, hands and thighs.
Mutevedzi said Chipapata’s actions demonstrated “hatred for women,” adding that society could not tolerate such conduct.
A post-mortem by Dr. Roberto Lara Diaz at United Bulawayo Hospitals found Ruzive had died of a severe skull fracture and subdural haemorrhage caused by chop wounds from the machete.
Mkandla survived after receiving treatment at Shurugwi Hospital for multiple deep lacerations.
Police arrested Chipapata shortly after the incident.
He was convicted of murder and attempted murder after a full trial.
