Tenant st@bbed by landlord for praying in her room

A violent confrontation in Rusape, Zimbabwe, has left a young tenant seriously injured after she was attacked by her landlord for praying in her room before dawn. The incident occurred in Magamba suburb in the early hours of Tuesday, September 23, and has shocked the local community. According to prosecutors and witness accounts, the trouble began when the landlord, 38-year-old Nomsa Sambayi, entered the room of her tenant, 27-year-old Margaret Chiduku, at around 3 a.m. Chiduku was said to be deep in prayer when Sambayi forced her way in, accusing her of using religious devotions for sinister purposes. What began as a verbal assault quickly turned violent. Witnesses said Sambayi, armed with a kitchen knife, launched a sustained attack, stabbing Chiduku before escalating the assault by striking her with a brick. The situation was only brought under control when other tenants on the property intervened, preventing further harm. State prosecutor Faith Mutukwa, outlining the sequence of events before the Rusape Magistrates Court, said: Sambayi is Chidukus landlord. On September 23, 2025, at around 3 a.m., the complainant was inside her room praying when the accused person opened the unlocked door, holding a kitchen knife. Sambayi then began shouting at the complainant, accusing her of being a witch who pretended to be a Christian. When Sambayi appeared in court before Magistrate Barbara Mateko, she faced charges of assault. She was unrepresented and did not enter a plea, but her courtroom behaviour raised concerns about her mental state. Observers reported that she appeared visibly unwell, stressed, and was heard mumbling about being under the influence of a malevolent spirit. Despite the gravity of the allegations, Sambayi was released from custody after her initial appearance. The case was remanded until September 30, when a formal plea is expected to be recorded. The victim did not escape the ordeal without injury. Prosecutors confirmed that Chiduku was stabbed twice in the face, once in the left arm, and struck three times on the head with a brick. She sustained cuts to her head and arm and was medically examined following the attack.The post Tenant st@bbed by landlord for praying in her room appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.