The Makuya Periodical Court sentenced a Vhurivhuri resident to six years’ imprisonment, after he was found guilty on three charges of arson.

It was testified that Ndiimafhi Nephawe (31) of Vhurivhuri-Ngwenani seemed possessed and embarked on a burning spree of properties of people he suspected to be witches, leaving some of them homeless and destitute.

Nephawe’s sentencing stems from an incident that happened last month, where Granny Namadzavho Malusele (73) of Vhurivhuri- Matovha was relaxing with her granddaughter, when they were disturbed by the suspect, who threatened them with a knife and later set their hut on fire. She lost everything that was in the hut, as she had to run for cover after being threatened.

Tshavhungwe Nengwenani (about 55) of Vhurivhuri- Ngwenani was not so lucky as both her rondavels with all their contents were gutted in the incident. Nengwenani was left with only the clothing she was wearing. She is still destitute.

The sentence meted to the suspect was warmly received by members of the community, victims and the local police who said it would serve as a deterrent and would scare others from committing the same offence and also show them that crime does not pay.

Insp Mashudu Madida, spokesperson for the Makuya police, was full of praise for the speed with which justice was dispensed and the sentence meted out to the culprit. “We commend the role our justice system is playing in rooting out crime. As police we can only arrest and leave everything in the hands of the courts, and it is through a joint commitment with our communities that we can win the war against crime,” he said.