Suspected cheat sets wife ablaze

Gerald Mubaiwa (35) from Zimbiri Village, Chinamhora, could not stomach his wife’s accusations, culminating in a domestic dispute.
He emptied a two-litre container of paraffin on her before setting her ablaze.

Mubaiwa was yesterday brought to court charged with murder.
He was not asked to plead to the charge when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini.
He was granted a US$50 bail coupled with stringent conditions.

Mubaiwa was ordered to report once a week at Chinamhora police, to reside at his given address and not to interfere with State witnesses. Mubaiwa will be back in court on January 17 for routine remand.
Appearing for the State Mr David Magwegwe alleged that on December 14 last year, Mubaiwa had a misunderstanding with his wife Shelline Madunhu.

He grabbed a two-litre container of paraffin and poured it on her before setting her on fire.
Madunhu sustained severe burns and was rushed to the hospital.

She implicated her husband as the culprit and later died after four days.
In his warned and cautioned statement, Mubaiwa denied causing his wife’s death. He argued that she committed suicide by setting herself ablaze.

“I entered the house and saw my wife pouring paraffin on herself and our baby. I then ran towards her and took the baby into another room. In a bid to stop my wife from committing suicide, I ran back to her but it was too late as she had already set herself ablaze. She accused me of having an affair with another woman, whom I do not even know,” said Mubaiwa in his statement.