Pastor goes berserk assaults tenant over rent

A Gweru pastor has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Gweru magistrate after he recently went berserk and assaulted his female tenant for failing to pay her rentals on time.

The convicted man of the cloth, Innocent Bandare (38), of Essex Road, Windsor Park, Gweru, had pleaded guilty to assaulting his tenant, Ms Emilia Chinai Ndlezane when he appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa on Friday.

He was convicted and the court suspended 12 months of his sentence for five years on condition of good behaviour.

The other 12 months on Bandare, who is a pastor with Miracle Gate Ministries, were suspended on condition that he performs 420 hours of community service at Gweru Rural Police Station.

For the State, Mr Michael Mhene told the court that on 21 April this year, at around 6 pm, Bandare approached Ms Ndlezane, who is a tenant at his house, and demanded his rentals.

Mr Mhene said Ms Ndlezane then told Bandare that she had not raised the money.

The court heard that Bandare, who would have none of that, then entered Ms Ndlezane's room and grabbed her DVD speakers, which he said he wanted to hold as collateral security.

Bandare wanted to again take away a wardrobe from Ms Ndlezane's room.

Mr Mhene said when Ms Ndlezane tried to stop Bandare from moving out the property he became violent and assaulted her with open hands all over the body.

The complainant sustained a swollen left eye and bruises all over the body as a result of the assault.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Bandare's arrest.

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