A foul-mouthed Gweru man will have to perform 210 hours of community service after he was convicted for insulting his wife’s church colleagues calling them prostitutes before he went on to assault his spouse.

The man, General Maraudze (31) of Ruweri Compound in Ridgement Gweru, was arraigned before the courts facing charges of assaulting his wife, Ms Chiedza Christmas (33) at a public gathering. He pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Gweru magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

However, six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour while the remaining months were wholly suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at a primary school in Lower Gweru. In his defence, Maraudze said he was drunk. He pleaded with the courts to be lenient with him.

The State led by Ms Yeukai Mugumba proved that on 20 April at 8pm, the complainant went to a night church service together with her neighbour. Mugumba said Maraudze followed the complainant to church.

The court heard that when Christmas reached the gate of the house were the service was being held, Maraudze caught up with her and asked for the house keys. Christmas told her husband that the keys were at the usual spot were Maraudze knew. Mugumba said Maraudze insulted the complainant and other church members calling them prostitutes.

The court heard that Maraudze went on to assault his wife with fists before the church congregation. Christmas fell down and Maraudze was refrained from further assaulting her by church members.

Mugumba said the complainant later went to a neighbour’s place where she spent the night. The court heard that on the following morning, Christmas reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of Maraudze.