Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve
Sunday News Reporter
A 34-year-old Cowdray Park woman, Happiness Chimbangu has been arrested for allegedly murdering her husband and their two young children in the early hours of Thursday.
The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Edwin Chimbangu, four-year-old Promise Chimbangu, and Prudence Chimbangu, a seven-month-old infant.
According to Bulawayo Police Spokesperson, Asst Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, the distressing events began on January 29, when Happiness visited her mother to express her deep distress over financial hardships and her husband’s alleged inability to provide for the family.
Later that day, she returned home and confided in her mother about her suicidal thoughts, asking her to care for her children.
“On January 29, at around 8 am the accused informed her mother that her husband was not providing adequately, plunging the family into severe poverty. Around 3 pm that same day, she returned to her mother’s home, appearing more distressed and stating she intended to take her life. She pleaded with her mother to look after her children,” Asst Insp Msebele explained.
At around 10 pm Edwin Chimbangu called his mother-in-law, expressing concern over Happiness who had mentioned suicide earlier in the day. In response Happiness’s mother, accompanied by two church members, visited the couple’s home that evening. They spent time counseling Happiness, who openly discussed her struggles. They left the residence around midnight believing the situation had improved.
Tragically, just two hours later at approximately 2 am, Happiness’s mother received alarming news from a church member nearby.
“Two hours later, at around 2 am, a church member called to inform the accused’s mother that her daughter had come to his house and confessed to killing her family,” said Asst Insp Msebele.
When police arrived at the Chimbangu household, they found Edwin lying on the bed with severe injuries to his neck, right ear, cheek and near his eye. Promise was found on a mattress with a deep cut on his shoulder and multiple lacerations on his head. Prudence was discovered lying next to her father with similar injuries.
A blood-stained metal digger, believed to be the murder weapon, was found near the door, along with blood stains on Mrs Chimbangu’s blue dress. The bodies were transported to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post-mortem examinations.
Asst Insp Msebele expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of the young family and emphasized the importance of seeking help for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. She urged the community to remain vigilant and to provide support to those in distress to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Investigations are ongoing. @nyeve14
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter