Zvishavane man sentenced to 9 years for attempted murder of ex-girlfriend’s two juveniles
ZVISHAVANE – Raphel Chezhara, a 44-year-old from Village Machowa under Chief Masunda was sentenced to 9 years in prison by Zvishavane Regional Magistrate Sengster Tavengwa for attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend’s two children by setting their house on fire.
According to the State, represented by Moreblessing Chananda, on September 11, 2024, around 1900 hours, Beauty Mhandu, the mother of the victims, aged 3 and 4, left her children asleep while she went to nearby shops to buy matches.
From a distance, Mhandu saw Chezhara crawling into her house, holding a plastic container. She immediately returned with her friend, Modina Shoko and chased Chezhara away. However, they failed to apprehend him.
The court heard that Chezhara hid in a nearby bush, then returned after Shoko and Mhandu left. He poured petrol into the bedroom where the children slept, lit the house on fire and fled.
Upon returning, Mhandu discovered the bedroom was ablaze and rushed to rescue her children. She then took them to Zvishavane District Hospital for treatment of their fire injuries.
The medical reports of the victims were subsequently produced before the court as exhibits.
