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Freedom Mupanedemo-Midlands Bureau
A MAN from Shurugwi has been handed two life sentences for murdering his two girlfriends in separate incidents.
Emmanuel Mahembe appeared before High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi sitting in Gweru with two assessors on the two murder charges on Friday.
Justice Mutevedzi found Mahembe guilty of murder with actual intent and sentenced him to two life sentences.
The court found that between August 2021 and September 2022, Mahembe became involved with Patricia Mutero and proposed love to her. The two became romantically involved.
Mahembe was in the relationship for financial gains and in September 2022 was at Donga Business Centre, Shurugwi with Ms Mutero. Mahembe drove her Honda Fit to Dhanga Dip Tank where he murdered her, wrapped the body in a blanket and buried it along Gwamamvura riverbed before driving off in her motor vehicle, which he later sold.
In 2021, Mahembe met Idah Chigumbete and became romantically involved and on May 22, 2021, the two drove off to her deceased’s sister’s home in Shurugwi. Along the way, the two had a misunderstanding over money.
The argument escalated and Mahembe murdered Ms Chigumbete and dumped the body in a disused mine shaft at Mutevekwi Bridge. After killing Ms Chigumbete, Mahembe started using the deceased’s EcoCash account and diverted the money to his personal use.
He continued driving around in her Honda Fit vehicle. The murder came to light when her relatives became suspicious and alerted police leading to the arrest of Mahembe.
Meanwhile, a Gweru woman who returned home early from an all-night church prayer and killed her husband’s lover after finding them in a compromising position on her matrimonial bed has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for murder.
Stacy Thokozani Mkandla (34) was sentenced by High Court Judge Justice Naison Chivayo sitting at the Gweru High Court circuit.
The court heard that Mkandla stabbed Brightness Phiri (27) with a kitchen knife once on the right side of the head, once on the breast and once on the back. She had caught Ms Phiri in her matrimonial bed with her husband Tafadzwa Emmanuel Munyoro in February.
Mkandla first punched Ms Phiri but went to the kitchen where she came back armed with a knife. Munyoro took the knife from her and he left the room leaving Mkandla arguing with Ms Phiri.
Mkandla returned to the kitchen and armed herself with another knife that she used to stab Ms Phiri once on the right side of the head, once on the breast and once on the back. Ms Phiri fled from the house and collapsed and died on the street. The police were called and Mkandla was arrested.
Online Reporter