Harare — A HARARE man was recently sentenced to an effective five months in prison for breaching a peace order and beating up his wife for the second and third times this year.

Clifford Mutemaringa (34) pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before Mbare magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa.

Mrs Kufa sentenced Mutemaringa to 10 months in prison, but suspended five months on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next four years.

Next time he assaults her, he will get the five months plus the new sentence.

In passing sentence, Mrs Kufa said people like Mutemaringa were making it difficult for the Government to totally eradicate all forms of domestic violence.

Mutemaringa's wife told the court that she was fed up with the assaults and was no longer willing to remain in marriage with her husband.

Earlier this year, Mutemaringa was sentenced to 20 days in prison after he assaulted his wife.

The wife obtained a peace order against him but Mutemaringa defied the protection and assaulted his wife twice more.