A 53-year-old landlord from Bulawayo has been sentenced to community service for kidnapping after locking his female tenant in her room when she rejected his advances.
The incident took place on the evening of February 5, 2025, when Esau Sibanda, the landlord, approached his 36-year-old tenant, Mrs. Estel Mwembe, at her residence. Sibanda, harboring inappropriate intentions, demanded sexual favors from Mrs. Mwembe. When she firmly refused, the situation escalated.
Angered by her rejection, Sibanda insisted that she pay the outstanding rent from the previous month. Fearing for her safety, Mrs. Mwembe retreated to her room, but Sibanda locked the door from the outside, trapping her inside. She was confined for over 12 hours, unable to escape or seek help.
It wasn’t until the next morning, around 11 am, that concerned neighbors noticed her absence and raised the alarm. Their quick action led to her rescue, and Sibanda was later arrested.
During the court proceedings, Sibanda pleaded guilty to charges of illegal possession of drugs and kidnapping. Western Commonage magistrate, Ms. Skhetile Moyo, sentenced him to 16 months in prison, with four months suspended for five years on the condition that he does not commit a similar offense during that time.
The prosecutor argued that Sibanda abused his position as a landlord to intimidate and coerce Mrs. Mwembe. “Such behavior not only violated the tenant’s rights but also undermined the trust that should exist between landlords and tenants,” the prosecutor stated.
The remaining 12 months of his sentence were also suspended, contingent upon his completion of 560 hours of community service at Njube Police Station. The court deemed this punishment both a rehabilitative measure for Sibanda and an opportunity for him to make a positive contribution to society.
