Online Reporter
Weekender Reporter
A HARROWING incident in Penhalonga has left two women injured and five children fatherless after their husband took his own life following a violent confrontation with his two wives—who are sisters—over his secret third marriage.
The tragedy unfolded on Monday night at Brighton Mhungu (35)’s home in Tsvingwe middle-density suburb, where the revelation of his clandestine union sparked chaos and despair.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed that Mhungu ingested cyanide after a heated dispute with his wives, Bridget and Brenda Nhopore.
Both women are recovering from injuries sustained during the altercation and are now grappling with grief and uncertainty.
Mhungu’s death has left his five children without a breadwinner, compounding the family’s anguish.
“On January 5, at approximately 8pm in Tsvingwe, Penhalonga, Brighton Mhungu died after ingesting poison,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka. “Earlier that evening, around 7.40pm, Mhungu had a serious disagreement with his two wives after they discovered he had secretly married a third woman. The argument escalated into violence, with Mhungu assaulting his wives before threatening to take his own life. He then drank poison in their presence.”
After consuming the substance, Mhungu drove his vehicle about a kilometre from his home before parking it by the roadside.
His lifeless body was later discovered inside the car by Benson Nhopore (54).
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged the public to resolve domestic disputes peacefully and to report cases of abuse early before they spiral out of control.
When The Weekender visited the family home on Tuesday, the atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, anger, and disbelief.
Bridget, Mhungu’s first wife, recounted the ordeal with visible distress:
“He came home and assaulted me while I was cooking. I asked him why, and he said he wanted to die with me that night.”
She explained that tensions began on December 31, when Mhungu inadvertently exposed his secret marriage to a third wife. Brenda, the second wife, recorded the conversation, setting the stage for the confrontation that ultimately ended in tragedy.
“He was talking about going back to the third wife’s home in Chipinge to finish paying her bride price. He said he had paid the first part in October,” she said, adding that she had been cohabiting with Mhungu for 10 years, and had not paid any bride price, a fate which contributed to her distress.
“I got somehow mad because…he broke my heart first when he took my young sister as a wife. He also did not pay any bride price for her. Now he has married someone else, and paid a bride price,” she said.
She confronted Mhungu over the issue on that fateful Monday evening.
“I told him that we knew his shenanigans. People had been telling us that he was married to another woman and that they had recently welcomed a baby boy.
“All that time he was coming home as if all was normal,” she said, adding that instead of calming the situation, the confrontation triggered violence.
“He assaulted me and even drew out a knife with the intention of stabbing me, but I dogged the attack as I was alert. I screamed for help,” she said, adding that the late Mhungu left and proceeded to her sister Brenda’s house, while she followed behind.
“When he got there, he slapped her once on the face. She asked why he was assaulting her, and he said she had leaked to me his call recording,” said Bridget.
She alleged that the violence intensified.
“He took a charcoal brazier (mbaura) from outside and struck my sister with it. She lost two teeth in the process,” she said.
Moments later, she said, Mhungu went to his car, took cyanide and drank it.
“He came back to tell us that he had taken cyanide,” she said, adding that he later drove off towards the Tsvingwe crossroads, where he was reportedly involved in a road accident before his death.
Bridget said she could not understand why Mhungu chose to take his life.
“I do not know why he took that poison only because his secret was out. This was not the first time that he had an affair. He was a womaniser, and we were always fighting because of that behaviour,” she said.
She further claimed the late Mhungu had a history of violent threats.
“At one time he took all his five children and threatened to poison them together with him with cyanide. People in this area had to beg him to release the children. That is how violent he was,” she said, adding that the family is now stranded, with his body still at the mortuary.
“We are yet to collect his body from the hospital after the post-mortem. Police said one of his relatives has to be present,” she said, adding that his relatives are in Gokwe and lack transport.
“They do not have bus fare to come here. They are waiting for us to send them money, but we have nothing. In fact, when he decided that he would kill himself, he took all the money from the house and went with it,” she said.
Adding to their distress, Bridget alleged that money was stolen from Mhungu’s body at the accident scene.
“People stole the money after searching his corpse. His third wife later tried to hand us the phones he had after his death,” she said, adding that they refused to accept them.
“We told her to bring them back when his relatives come,” she said.
Brenda appealed for assistance, saying the family has been left destitute.
“If there is anyone who can help us, please do so.
“We do not know what to do at this moment. We have young children and no money,” she said, adding that the late Mhungu is expected to be buried in Gokwe, but the family has no means to facilitate the process.
“Those willing to help can send Ecocash on 0783556069. The number is registered in the name of Samantha Rungwende,” she said.
