Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A DOMESTIC dispute, allegedly fuelled by accusations of infidelity, ended in tragedy in Mutare on Sunday when a man is alleged to have bashed his wife to death with a hammer.
The gruesome incident occurred at House Number 9008, Natview Park, in Chikanga suburb, and was allegedly witnessed by the couple’s seven-year-old daughter.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, referred questions to national police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who could not be reached for comment.
However, H-Metro understands that Blessing Makamba (30) and his wife, Rumbidzai Matasva (27), had been experiencing longstanding marital problems.
Makamba was allegedly accusing his wife of infidelity.
According to sources familiar with the matter, tensions between the couple escalated on Sunday, culminating in a violent confrontation.
“On the fateful day, the misunderstanding turned violent, with Makamba allegedly assaulting Matasva.
“He allegedly struck her several times on the head and face with a hammer, inflicting severe injuries.
“Matasva bled profusely and is believed to have died at the scene.
“After allegedly realising what had happened, Makamba reportedly fled, leaving the body in the house together with the couple’s two minor children,” said the source.
The horrifying discovery was made after a fellow tenant was alerted by the couple’s children.
“At around 6.10pm, I returned home and was met by the deceased’s two children, who were crying uncontrollably.
“They told me their mother had died.
“We opened the door and found her lying motionless on the floor. There was blood all over the room,” said the tenant.
Investigations are in progress, while efforts to locate the suspect are underway.
The incident has left residents of Natview Park shocked, particularly given that the gruesome attack occurred in the presence of young children.
It’s the latest such tragedy to occur in Mutare in the past few months and is another addition to scores of such incidents which have happened across the country.
Just four months ago a woman, who hours earlier had breastfed her toddler at a bar where she was drinking, died after she was bashed by her husband for having left the same baby at home.
The tragedy unfolded in the Chikanga neighbourhood of Mutare.
Neighbours say Tawanda Muradzikwa, 34, who is being accused of murdering his wife, Samantha Chuma, 41, allegedly had a history of domestic violence.
The dispute, which ended in tragedy, was triggered by Samantha’s decision to leave their four-month-old baby at home while she went to a local bar for a drink on Wednesday night.
She is said to have left the infant under the care of her other children.
When Tawanda returned home, according to the people who live at the same house with the couple, he found the infant crying.
He followed her to the bar.
A woman, who stays at their house, followed the couple to the bar with the baby.
Samantha was forced to breastfeed her child at the bar and there are even images showing her with the baby wrapped on her back, while holding a beer.
The couple returned home and that’s where the violence escalated, leading to the death of Samantha.
The couple’s children were placed under the care of relatives.
