The court, through prosecutor Inspector Shadreck Wisiki, heard that both convicts are from Mtumbula village, while the complainants hail from Mtotela village and the two neighboring villages have been at loggerheads for a long time due to land disputes.

On August 8, 2024, some members of Mtotela village built an initiation camp (simba) within their village. However, irate Mtumbula villagers, equipped with sticks and knives and led by the convicts, invaded their rivals’ village, damaging and setting ablaze the shelter worth K100,000 while also assaulting stabbing some of their rivals.

Appearing in court, the duo pleaded not guilty, prompting the state to present five witnesses who proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, both convicts asked for the court’s leniency, stating they are polygamists and their families would suffer if they were jailed.

But in submission, prosecutor Wisiki prayed for stiffer punishments, citing that their behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in society.

Passing the sentence, Second Grade Magistrate Baxter Chikalimba concurred with the state. Chikalimba ordered the first convict to pay a fine of K240,000 for the first, third, and fourth counts, while the second convict was ordered to pay K280,000, with a default of three years’ imprisonment with hard labor. On the second count, both convicts were sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years.

Chikalimba further instructed that the victims receive a sum of K310,000 as compensation.

Both convicts hail from Mtumbula village, Traditional Authority Namabvi in Mangochi.