A Gweru man who was caught red-handed in broad daylight by municipal undertakers digging up a grave upon instructions from a sangoma has finally been sentenced to 210 hours of community service.

On Tuesday, Samson Mudzingwa, 44, appeared before Gweru magistrate, Thomas Gurajena, and pleaded guilty to one count of violating a grave.

The court heard that Samson Mudzingwa of Mtapa, who works as a Gweru city council undertaker consulted a sangoma, who told him to select a grave of his choice at Mtapa cemetery and rob it. The sangoma instructed Mudzingwa to retrieve an iron bar from the grave and use it for ritual purposes.

It is alleged that on July 23 at around 12 noon, Mudzingwa was caught red-handed by a council undertaker, Elliot Mapfumbate ( the complainant) who also works at the same cemetery, digging up a grave at Mtapa Cemetery.

Mudzingwa was observed breaking the concrete grave slab, where the remains of one late Ncube were buried.

Mapfumbate filed a report at Gweru Central Police leading to the arrest of Mudzingwa.

However, when he was arrested, Mudzingwa had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody till August 7.

In his defense, Mudzingwa argued that he did not intend to cause any harm to the remains of the late James Ncube but wanted to take with him an iron bar as instructed by his sangoma. It is still not yet known what kind of ritual he intended to perform.

He was sentenced to perform 210 hours of community service at one of the Gweru City Council clinics.

Source – Zimbos eXpress