BISHOP ASSAULTS WIFE FOR DOING LAUNDRY ON CHURCH TIME

MANZINI - A bishop was fully aware of his uncontrolled rage when he was sentenced to three years imprisonment or E8 000 fine for assaulting his wife with a sjambok and fists.

This, after Muzi Boy Kunene, a 46-year-old man of Ludzeludze, assaulted his wife Zinhle Mhlongo for doing laundry during church time. The accused is said to have assaulted his wife with the sjambok several times all over the body, with fists on the left eye and further knocking her head on the ground at their home at Ludzeludze. The incident happened on March 5.
The man of the cloth appeared before Matsapha Magistrate Lucia Lukhele, who sentenced him to three years in prison or an option to pay a fine of E8 000. A year of the sentence was suspended or a fine of E1 000 suspended conditionally for a period of a year.  When submitting evidence in court, the wife of the clergyman revealed that her husband’s church where he was a bishop was situated in their family compound at Ludzeludze. She revealed that she worked from Monday to Saturday and made use of Sundays to perform her domestic chores, including cleaning, cooking, washing and bathing the children.

Delayed

She disclosed that all the chores were performed by her and on that particular day, she got delayed until the church service time, as she was still washing. “My husband came back and found me washing and lashed out at me, saying I am embarrassing him for being late (for the church service). He assaulted me such that I got a blue eye on the left eye,” she disclosed. The man of the cloth’s wife said he used a sjambok and fists on her face, while asking her what time it was. At this instance, the clergyman’s wife mentioned that she kept on apologising and explaining that she was overwhelmed by the domestic chores. However, she said her pleas fell on deaf ears as her husband continued to assault her. She said after the assault, she still bathed and attended the church service. On the following day, the complainant said she felt the need to go to hospital and she did. “I went to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital to get treatment and upon inquiry, I was told that I would not receive it lest I get a report from the police. So I went there (police station) and a statement was recorded whereupon a medical statement was issued,” she said.

Meanwhile, the man of the cloth submitted that he was apologetic of his actions. He said he was the leader of his church and a bishop. The accused told the court that he was infuriated on the day after his wife did not do as he wished, in keeping church time.

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