RUKWA: Man jailed for vulgar language

Written by PETI SIYAME in Sumbawanga

THE District Magistrate's Court in Sumbawanga has sentenced a resident of Kizitwa area in Sumbawanga Municipality, Alfred Kachele alias Fed, to one year in jail for using vulgar language, brawling and threatening Ms Kundananji Namkonda.

The court was told by Assistant Inspector of Police, Mr Emanuel Shani that the accused had strongly abused the complainant after accusing her of miraculously stealing his wife's pregnancy by means of witchcraft. Passing the judgment, Magistrate Adam Mwanjokolo said that the accused had committed the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

"Actually the prosecution side has proved its case against you beyond reasonable doubt," he told Mr Kachele. "I hereby, sentence you to one year in prison". "I pass this severe sentence so that it serves as a lesson not only to you but also others who may have similar inclinations," he said.

"It is very clear according to the evidence exhibited in the court by the prosecution that the accused committed the offence. He actually had nothing of substance in his defence which only goes to show his guilt," he said. Earlier, Mr Shani charged before the court that the accused committed the crime on July 16, this year, at 19:00 hours at Kizwitwe area in the municipality.

"Although the accused had no previous criminal record, I ask the court to hand him a severe punishment that will serve as a lesson to others who harbour similar intentions," he charged before the court. The prosecution side summoned three witnesses including the victim's mother to substantiate its case before the court.

The defence called in only one witness. It was alleged before the court that on that material night, the complainant was at the house of her sister-in-law to collect money. The house serves as a makeshift pub for local brew. The court was further told that the accused arrived and started accusing the complainant of being a witch and that she stole his wife's preganancy.

According to the prosecution, the accused later turned violent and started using abusive language. In a bizarre twist, he threatened to turn the complainant into a man and he would turn himself into a woman and they would make love all night as punishment.

As though that was not enough, he threatened to assault her with a bottle before running off from the house. He was arrested the next day. In his defence, the accused said that he never used abusive language against the complainant, noting that people just hate him.

Source: Daily News (18/11/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/11726-rukwa-man-jailed-for-vulgar-language