adminMartha Leboho Masvingo Correspondent
A mentally challenged Chivi man allegedly fatally struck his mother with an axe before attacking and seriously injuring his young brother with the same weapon following a heated row over a residential stand. Tatenda Davirai of Mhazo Village in Madyangove communal lands armed himself with an axe and chased his mother Esther Mhazo (55), before striking her once with an axe on the head after the altercation over his request for a stand to build his own home in the village.
The mother died on the spot.
Tatenda then turned on his young brother Workmore and struck him three times with the same axe all over the body, leaving him nursing serious injuries.
Acting police spokesperson for Masvingo Province Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said Tatenda was on the run after he allegedly murdered his mother in cold blood.
“The mother’s body was taken to Chivi District Hospital for post-mortem, while the suspect’s brother, who sustained deep cuts after being axed, is in a stable condition at the same hospital,’’ said Assistant Inspector Dhewa.
“We encourage those who live with mentally-challenged relatives to make sure they take their medication regularly,” he said.
On the fateful day, the suspect and his younger sibling were allegedly eating supper with other family members when a discussion concerning Tatenda’s request for a stand to build his own homestead allegedly cropped up.
A dispute then allegedly arose between Tatenda and his mother over the stand issue, prompting him to kick his mother before bolting out of the hut.
Tatenda’s mother followed him outside and he chased her with a small axe.
Workmore allegedly went outside and took the axe from his elder sibling.
Tatenda grabbed a bigger axe and continued to chase his mother.
He allegedly struck her once on the head after outpacing her.
She died on the spot.
Tatenda allegedly started charging towards Workmore and struck him three times with the axe all over the body before vanishing.
A report was made to police while Workmore was rushed to hospital.
Recently, a mentally challenged Masvingo woman allegedly fatally struck her mother with a pestle near Morgenster Mission after accusing the mother of neglecting her.
Online Reporter