Banker assaults wife, daughters over sadza
By Fungai Lupande
The trial of a CBZ senior manager, Norman Sambaza, who allegedly bashed his family over sadza started yesterday with his 17-year-old daughter testifying against him.
Sambaza (43) is facing three counts of domestic violence.
The teenager, Ruvimbo, told the court that his father was violent and that he had assaulted her for defending her mother.
“I love my father. I am testifying against him because he is abusive,” said the teenager.
“It was on January 8 this year when my parents started arguing. My elder sister tried to restrain them and he became violent and started assaulting her. I tried to shield my sister and my father started beating me.”
During cross-examination, Sambaza said he gave his daughter $150 on her birthday and that he pays over $13 000 for her tuition as a sign of love.
“Money cannot buy love dad. You are hardly home. If you love us you would come home,” said Ruvimbo.
Prosecuting, Mrs Devoted Nyagano-Gwashavanhu called Sambaza’s 77-year-old father as the first State witness.
In his defence, Sambaza said his marital problems got worse after his sick father came to stay with them.
“My wife managed to turn my father and daughters against me. Their aggressiveness led to the events of January 8, 2017,” said Sambaza.
“I am a loving father who takes care of his family to the best of my ability. I am perturbed with the wickedness of my wife of turning my own children against me.”
It is alleged that on January 8 at round 7pm Sambaza arrived home and found his father eating sadza.
He allegedly asked him whether the sadza was fresh or not. He was advised that the sadza was at room temperature.
It is alleged this did not go down well with Sambaza who quizzed his domestic worker why she had not warmed his father’s sadza.
The court heard that Reena interjected and told her husband to refrain from interfering in ‘kitchen affairs’.
It is alleged that an altercation ensued and Sambaza hurled obscenities at his wife. He allegedly shoved Reena prompting his daughters, Sharon and Ruvimbo, to intervene.
It is alleged that Sambaza turned on his daughters. The matter was reported to the police. The Herald
