Man Pleads With Magistrates To Jail Wife Over Hot Cooking Oil Attack

A man from Masvingo who was attacked with hot cooking oil has asked the court to send his wife to prison, telling the magistrate he no longer feels safe living with her.

He said she poured hot cooking oil on his face, left hand and back during an argument over money.

The 27-year-old made the plea at Masvingo Magistrates’ Court on 10 July 2026, where his 21-year-old wife appeared facing an attempted murder charge.

“I am no longer comfortable staying with this wife. What if she kills me? She should go to jail for three months,” he said.

The accused appeared before Magistrate Archie Wochiungwa. She pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to 13 July for sentencing.

Prosecuting, Precious Takuva told the court that the incident happened on 8 July 2026, at around 8 pm, at the couple’s home.

The complainant said he gave his wife US$130 and told her he had spent US$5. This allegedly led to an argument after she asked why he had spent the money instead of giving it to her.

She allegedly poured hot cooking oil over his face, left hand and back. As he tried to get away, she allegedly bit him on the left hand before leaving the house.

The accused admitted the offence but told the court she had reacted after being assaulted by her husband.

“We argued about money. I asked my husband for money to buy nappies, and he gave it to me. After I came back from buying them, he began beating me and asked why I couldn’t give him the money he had earned,” she said.

She told the court she grabbed the pot of hot cooking oil the moment she had a chance to break free from the assault.

“He beat me, but when I found an opportunity to escape, I went straight to the kitchen and took the hot cooking oil which he had put on the stove and poured it on him. I wasn’t aware that he might die,” she said.

The accused pleaded with the court for leniency, saying she is the primary caregiver to a seven-month-old infant who remains entirely dependent on her for daily care, nourishment, and well-being.

“I ask the court to forgive me. I have a seven-month-old child who still needs a mother’s love, and growing up with separate parents might not be good for the child,” she said.

“I also need to talk to my husband because he might forgive me. I know he loves me, but it is his parents who are pushing him.”

-Tell Zimbabwe-