adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 51-YEAR-OLD Matobo man allegedly used barbed wire to hang himself at his homestead after a fight with his wife of 25 years. Police sources said Christopher Maphosa’s body was discovered by his wife, Cynthia Sibanda, in the early hours of Monday morning when she woke up to do her daily chores. Sibanda stumbled on the horrific sight of her husband’s lifeless body hanging from a Mususu tree in front of their homestead at Dlalatsha area.
The couple has four children.
Headman Simoni Zulu of the area said Maphosa and his wife were continuously having fights in public.
“It had become a common sight to see Maphosa and his wife quarrelling in public. In some instances the quarrels even turned into fights. As the leaders of the community we have been trying to counsel them without success,” he said.
Zulu said the community never thought the fighting would end tragically, adding that Sibanda often disrespected her husband.
He said on the night before he died, Maphosa is reported to have quarrelled with his wife after he arrived at home in the evening and found her absent and she later arrived in the middle of the night.
“He then threatened to kill himself. He told his wife that he would leave her so that she would remain living as she pleased without any restrictions from him,” said the headman.
Zulu said Maphosa reportedly slept in a separate room on that night in order to avoid arguing with his wife further.
He said Maphosa took a piece of barbed wire in the early hours of the following morning and used it to hang himself.
Chief Malachi Masuku from Matobo District confirmed the incident which he said occurred in a village which falls under his jurisdiction.
“I received the report of this elderly man who hanged himself following a quarrel with his wife. I am aware that this man and his wife were continuously fighting but committing suicide was not the solution.
“It is sad that this man has left behind his four children without a father. If only he had considered his family then he would have seen the need for him to stay alive. At the same time it is not proper for people to push their spouses to the limit. It is obvious that this man had suffered a lot of torture because of his wife and saw death as the only way out,” said Chief Masuku.
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