Binga axe killer in court

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Binga man who allegedly chopped off his wife’s head and put it in a box has told a court that he was driven to insanity by muti that he had been using together with his wife.
Wonder Munsaka, 29, of Muyobe Village under Chief Siabuwa yesterday appeared before Binga resident magistrate Stephen Ndlovu charged with murder.

He said he and his wife of 10 years, Fortunate Mutale (age not given), had gone mad because of the muti.
“It just happened. We had looked for some muti which was now making us fight and made us both insane. I do not know how this happened,” Munsaka said.

The magistrate ruled that he could be insane and should be sent for psychiatric evaluation by two doctors.
Munsaka allegedly used an axe to chop off Mutale’s head which he put in a cardboard box and hid under a bed.

Villagers claim Munsaka could have killed his wife for ritual purposes following instructions from an inyanga.
He allegedly visited a sangoma recently in Zambia where he was reportedly instructed to bring his wife’s head for ritual purposes.
In court, Munsaka appeared composed. He seemed unaware of the gravity of his offence.

The alleged axe killer returns to court on October 27.
The state led by Bruce Maphosa alleges that on Tuesday last week, Munsaka, a builder and fisherman used an axe to behead his wife at their matrimonial home.

After committing the crime, he allegedly took his two minor children to his parents’ home where he intended to leave them before he could proceed to Zambia.

However, when he returned he found neighbours gathered at his homestead as they had heard some screams. He then fled as villagers unsuccessfully tried to effect a citizen’s arrest.

The alleged killer was later arrested at Kapinda on Binga’s boundary with Gokwe.
The woman was buried on Saturday after her family demanded compensation and received five head of cattle, 10 goats and $100 from Munsaka’s family.  Initially, her family had demanded seven head of cattle, 10 goats and $100 before burial.