‘Ben Ten’ bashes lover in church

By Plaxcedes Hove

BULAWAYO – A 28-year-old “Ben 10” allegedly went berserk, bashed and humiliated his sugar mummy, 42, during a church service in Bulawayo.

Avail Zatha attacked his live-in girlfriend Ratidzo Mabharani at the Johane Masowe church in Cowdray Park suburb accusing her of locking him outside her house.

A rampaging Zatha brought the church service to a premature end as he threatened to stab congregants who tried to restrain him.

He appeared before Western Commonage provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo yesterday facing physical abuse charges.

Zatha was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to today.

Prosecuting Mufaro Mageza said Zatha intentionally abused Mabharani and humiliated her in front of her fellow church members.

“Zatha pummelled Mabharani in church. He struck her with stones and used fists several times all over her body while other church members were watching,” he said.

Zatha, who was not asked to plead, begged the magistrate to remand him out of custody.

“Your Worship, may I be remanded out of custody. I take pills; since I was arrested I haven’t taken my medication. Ratidzo came and went back with my medication before she gave it to me, please forgive me. Don’t send me to jail please,” he begged.

The magistrate dismissed his plea.

The court heard that on December 2 at around 9PM, Zatha arrived home and discovered that Mabharani had locked the door and gone to church. A fuming Zatha followed Mabharani to church.

He confronted her and became violent.

He punched and stoned her in front of her church mates. He also threatened members of the church with a knife after they tried to rescue Mabharani. The congregants then overpowered him and reported the matter to the police leading to Zatha’s arrest.

Mabharani sustained injuries and was referred to hospital for medical examination. A medical report was produced in court as evidence. The Chronicle