‘Gweru man sets wife ablaze, hangs’

A GWERU man allegedly killed his wife, set her body on fire in a friend’s car and later committed suicide in a suspected crime of passion.

The incident occurred on Tuesday along Fletcher Road near King Cobra Mine. The couple has been identified as Nigel Mukoki and Definite Musomekwa.

The Zimpapers news crew caught up with relatives at Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary soon after leaving Mukoki’s body.

Relatives said the tragedy came just three days after the couple had returned from attending a funeral in Shurugwi.
Family spokesperson Mr Christopher Magumise, said they were still shocked and trying to come to terms with the shocking events.

“We heard Nigel had assaulted his wife. Later, we heard she was dead and that he was missing. We were then told he had hanged himself in the Coolmoreen area. We collected his body with the help of the police,” he said.

Another family member, Mr Tawanda Munikwa, said the couple used a borrowed car to travel to Shurugwi for the funeral.

“We heard the fighting started when they returned from the funeral but we don’t know if he killed her first before setting her body on fire. We also heard that Nigel told his children that he had been robbed and we don’t know why,” he said.

A passerby, Mr Anad Zengeya, said he found the woman’s upper body in flames.

“She appeared to be kneeling besides the burning vehicle and the back door was open,” he said.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident. He said police attended the scene after being alerted by a passerby.

“We are investigating the death of a woman whose burnt body was found next to a burnt Honda Fit motor vehicle, along Fletcher Road near King Cobra Mine in Gweru. Police attended the scene after being alerted by a passerby on August 12 at about 6AM, “he said.

Insp Mahoko said Mukoki’s body was found hanging from a tree at around 2PM on the same day.

He urged members of the public facing problems to seek help instead of resorting to violence or suicide.

“We urge people facing domestic or personal challenges to seek help rather than resort to such acts,” said Insp Mahoko.