HARARE – A 38-year-old man from Southlea Park has been sentenced to an effective nine months in prison for the physical assault of his 31-year-old girlfriend during a dispute regarding his HIV status.
The ruling, delivered by a Mbare magistrate, follows a case brought forward by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ). The incident underscores the legal consequences of domestic violence linked to health-related conflicts.
The assault occurred on March 8, 2026, at the Southlea Park shopping centre. According to the NPAZ, the man repeatedly punched his girlfriend in the face after she accused him of infecting her with HIV.
Court Proceedings and Evidence
The defendant, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, faced charges of physical abuse under Zimbabwe’s domestic violence and criminal law framework, which criminalises physical assault within intimate relationships and provides for custodial sentences in serious cases.
During the trial, the court examined medical reports to determine the severity of the attack. Medical examination results for the victim were presented as evidence to confirm the extent of the physical injuries sustained during the assault, informing both the conviction and the length of the custodial term.
Sentence and Legal Context
The magistrate imposed the following sentence:
- Total jail term: 12 months
- Suspended portion: 3 months (conditional on good behaviour)
- Effective sentence: 9 months
The NPAZ is the statutory body mandated to lead the prosecution of all criminal matters in Zimbabwe, ensuring that offenders are held accountable under the country’s penal laws and that provisions of statutes such as the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16] are enforced through the courts.
Legal practitioners note that cases of intimate-partner violence linked to disputes over health status remain a concern for prosecutors and health advocates, who emphasise that early reporting and the use of protection orders available under domestic violence legislation are critical to preventing escalation.
The man has been remanded to serve the effective nine-month term.