Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A 56-year-old man from Malala Village in Beitbridge went berserk on Sunday afternoon and fatally stabbed his wife at Matshiloni Village after efforts to reconcile over a long-standing domestic dispute failed.
Mukhosi Shadreck Mulaudzi Muthavhatsindi killed his wife, irked by his in-laws’ suggestion for the couple to settle for a divorce for the sake of peace.
The two, who were based in South Africa, returned to their parents on Friday at the height of the dispute and had gathered on Sunday at the instigation of their families to resolve their dispute.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube, confirmed the killing.
He said Muthavhatsindi was arrested after he was accosted by a mob when he tried to escape from the scene.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the couple was staying together in South Africa and they returned to Zimbabwe on April 24. Upon arrival, the suspect went to his home in Malala and the now deceased went to her family home in Matshiloni, since the two had a long-standing domestic dispute,” said Chief Supt Ncube.
“Later on April 26, the suspect went to the in-laws’ homestead at Matshiloni in the company of a go-between (Munyai/Idombo) with the view to resolving the dispute at the instigation of both families.
“During deliberations, the wife’s relatives suggested that the couple should settle for a divorce since they had failed to reach an amicable agreement for a long period of time. This did not go down well with the suspect, and an argument ensued”.
He said that during the argument, Muthavhatshindi stood up and charged towards his wife, who then ran away and hid behind one of the houses at the homestead.
The man later caught up with her and allegedly stabbed her once on the left side of the chest and she screamed before collapsing and died on the spot.
Chief Supt Ncube said Muthavhatsindi then bolted from the scene, but was pursued by a mob that managed to apprehend him and the matter was subsequently reported to the police.
“The suspect is in custody pending his initial court appearance and the body has been conveyed to the hospital for a post-mortem,” he added.
