Teen chained, stripped and doused with petrol in torture ordeal over sugarcane theft

By Auther Chimbgwa

In a shock case of vigilante justice, a 16-year-old Dotito juvenile was chained, beaten up and doused with petrol by two men who accused him and his friends of stealing some sugarcane.

For the crime, the two men were recently jailed for an effective 10 years, 5 months by a Mt Darwin magistrate’s court for unlawful detention, assault and extortion. 

Mawaiti Chigwida (41)  and Collins Rengwa (32) were accused of abducting, assaulting  and extorting the juvenile and his friends over stolen sugarcane in Dotito.

The teenager was chained, stripped, beaten with a yoke chain and forced to do hard labour, according to prosecutors.

 “The duo  smeared him with buffalo beans and doused him in petrol whilst threatening to set him alight,” said the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) in a statement.

 The vigilante abuse, court was told, lasted for hours with the teenager’s guardian being extorted to secure the boy’s release. 

 The other minors were also detained and exploited by the duo on the same date.

 “The court found both offenders guilty  on six counts including unlawful detention, assault and extortion. 

 “Justice has been served, but this disturbing case underscores the dangers of vigilante justice and child abuse,” the NPAZ said.