Age gap row ends in tragedy

Masvingo Correspondent
A 22-YEAR-OLD Gutu man allegedly committed suicide following an argument with his wife sparked by his discovery that she was older than him.Gift Munatsei of Berani Village under Chief Munyaradzi, discovered two years after their customary marriage, that he was seven years younger than his wife, a realisation that he could not accept.

The wife, Tendai Mudyiwa, 29, of the same village was taken aback when she found Munatsei lying unconscious on the floor in their matrimonial bedroom hut on returning from the kitchen where he had sent her to collect mealie-meal.

He was rushed to Gutu Mission Hospital where he died on admission.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna confirmed the incident and said the body was taken to the same hospital mortuary for postmortem.

“I can confirm receiving a report of sudden death where a man from Gutu committed suicide by poisoning. The body was taken to the hospital mortuary where the postmortem results showed that he died as a result of poisoning,” said Asst Insp Nduna.

According to villagers, on Thursday at around 2PM, Munatsei arrived home drunk and headed to the bedroom.

The man who is said to have had an argument with Mudyiwa the previous day over her age, called his wife and asked her to collect mealie-meal from their kitchen hut.

One villager said while Mudyiwa was in the kitchen, Munatsei locked the bedroom door from inside before taking poison.

Upon her return, Mudyiwa had to gain entry through the window, only to find her husband lying unconscious on the floor. She alerted other villagers who assisted in rushing Munatsei to Gutu Mission Hospital where he died on admission.

“The previous night the couple was said to have engaged in a heated debate when Munatsei discovered that he was seven years younger than his wife of two years. It is also alleged that Mudyiwa had told Munatsei that she was of his age,” said a villager who preferred anonymity.

Another villager said Munatsei had been mocked by his peers for marrying an older woman. This did not go down well with him, resulting in the decision to take his own life.