Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A 63-YEAR-OLD Gwanda woman has appeared in court for allegedly killing her 70-year-old husband with an axe while trying to protect her daughter during a domestic altercation.
Miriam Ndlovu of Matshetsheni Village was not asked to plead when she appeared before Gwanda magistrate Ms Brenda Kachepa facing a murder charge.
She was remanded in custody to August 27.
Prosecuting, Mr Shepherd Moyo said the incident occurred on August 11 at about 5PM at the couple’s homestead.
The court heard that Ndlovu’s husband, Harold Ngwenya, was involved in an altercation with his stepdaughter, Ms Happiness Ndlovu, before the situation turned violent.
“On the 11 August 2026 at around 5PM, the now deceased, Harold Ngwenya, was at home together with his wife, who is the accused person, and Ms Happiness Ndlovu, who is their daughter. The now deceased had an altercation with his stepdaughter who went on to accuse him of being a witch,” said Mr Moyo.
The court heard that Ngwenya allegedly struck his stepdaughter above her left eye with the back of an axe.
Ndlovu allegedly intervened to stop her husband from assaulting her daughter and managed to overpower him and take the axe.
The State alleges that she then struck Ngwenya twice on the head with the weapon.
“Ngwenya struck his stepdaughter with the back part of an axe on the upper left eye and the accused
person restrained Ngwenya from further assaulting her daughter,” said Mr Moyo.
The court heard that during the process, the accused person overpowered Ngwenya, took the axe and struck him twice on the head. Ngwenya fell to the ground and died on the spot.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
In a separate case, a 22-year-old Filabusi man has appeared in court for allegedly striking his neighbour with a brick during a fight over beer, resulting in his death.
Khumbulani Hlongwane was not asked to plead when he appeared before Ms Kachepa facing a murder charge.
He was remanded in custody to August 28.
Prosecuting, Ms Rest Mguni told the court that Hlongwane allegedly intervened in a fight between his friend, Bekithemba Sibanda and the now deceased, Brighton Moyo.
The court heard that on May 6 at around 9PM, Moyo and Sibanda were drinking when an argument broke out after Moyo allegedly drank Sibanda’s beer without permission.
“Sibanda and Moyo started fighting and Hlongwane, who was in the vicinity, assisted Sibanda and they ganged up on Moyo,” said Ms Mguni.
Moyo attempted to flee but the two men caught up with him a few metres from the business centre.
The State alleges that Hlongwane picked up a brick and struck Moyo on the head and collapsed and lost consciousness.
“Sibanda and Hlongwane fled from the scene leaving Moyo lying on the ground. Moyo’s body was found on the following morning near the business centre and the matter was reported to the police,” said Ms Mguni.
Police investigations subsequently led to Hlongwane’s arrest after villagers told investigators that they had seen him assaulting Moyo.
