By A Correspondent- A misunderstanding over mealie-meal nearly turned tragic when a 34 year old man from Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi high density suburb hit his 37 year old sister in law with an iron rod on the head as punishment for asking why he had opened her mealie meal and prepared isitshwala without her say so.

This was heard when Andrew Sibanda appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Stephen Ndhlovu charged with physical abuse in contravention of the Domestic Violence Act.

He pleaded guilty and was remanded out of custody to 8 March on $5000 bail for sentencing. He was ordered not interfere with witnesses.

Circumstances are that on 27 January 2021 Sibanda, who was supposedly hungry, opened his sister-in-law Caroline Mackie‘s mealie-meal without her consent and prepared isitshwala.

The court heard that this however, didn’t go down well with Mackie who then confronted Sibanda and asked him why he had opened her mealie-meal without her consent.

A misunderstanding arose between the two parties and Sibanda started insulting Mackie saying she was a prostitute. Sibanda then went out of the house and came back armed with an iron bar which he used to strike Mackie once on the head.

Mackie, who sustained some injuries, went and reported the matter to the police, leading to Sibanda’s arrest and subsequent appearance in court.-bmetro