Five women from Wedza in viral assault video sentenced to five years

ZIMSPHERE 

FIVE women from Wedza, Mashonaland East, have been sentenced to five years in prison following a viral video depicting their violent assault on another woman, Mavis Mada. 

The convicted individuals are Vimbai Mike (19), Rudo Manjere (17), Lilly Rose Munyoro (16), Lillian Chido Munyoro (17), and Sandra Vhumbunu (17).

The women were found guilty on charges of aggravated indecent assault, cyberbullying, unlawful detention, and assault. The court sentenced Vimbai Mike and a 17-year-old mother of two to an effective five-year jail term for indecent assault. 

They also received one-year sentences for cyberbullying, unlawful detention, and assault, which will run concurrently.

The three juveniles received suspended sentences, conditional on their good behavior for the next five years. 

The incident that led to the arrest of the five after the video went viral happened on July 4. The group lured Mavis Mada (18) to Vimbai Mike’s homestead in Mupfuuri Village under the pretense of giving her vegetable seedlings. 

Once there, they locked her in a hut and brutally attacked her. 

The women recorded the assault, taking turns to beat Mada with switches and inserting sticks into her private parts. 

Mada lost consciousness and was left naked after the attack.

Authorities arrested the suspects and seized a Vivo cellphone used to film the incident. 

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi at the time urged the public to resolve disputes peacefully and avoid resorting to violence.