‘They were fighting over pension’

Mthokozisi Ncube

THE City of Kadoma has been left shaken following a gruesome domestic incident in which a man allegedly stabbed his nine-month-pregnant daughter to death before turning the knife on his wife, leaving the community in disbelief.

Obert Namurokosi (45) handed himself over to police after killing his wife Cynthia (45) and Takudzwa (23)

Neighbours told B-Metro that Obert was habitually abusive.

It could not be established why he also killed his pregnant daughter.

“Obert was always fighting with his wife; the fights were sometimes physical. I always wondered why Cynthia did not report him to the police; unfortunately, I did not know the family that well,” said one of the neighbours.

The source said Obert had a history of violence, as he once attacked his colleagues. A case was filed against him, and he was made to pay US$400 for in compensation, which he settled by surrendering a fridge he and his wife owned.

“Obert took early retirement at his workplace, then spent all his pension fund alone and did not share a single penny with his wife. Obert’s wife was a teacher, so that’s how she sustained herself. However, one day Obert told his wife to take out a loan because they also wanted to build a house, but she refused, saying they could have used his pension money to do so.

“This is when things escalated; Obert became physical with his wife, and she ran away to her daughter, who was nine months pregnant and also had one child,” another neighbour explained.

Cynthia spent the night at her daughter’s place, not knowing it would be her last.

That same night, Obert was drinking at a local bar, telling fellow community members that he and his wife had no marital problems and that they were a happy couple.

“In the morning, Obert went to his daughter’s place carrying a kitchen knife and butchered his family, not considering that he was destroying lives, even the one not yet born.”

After the attack, Obert went to the nearest police station and handed himself in.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the police arrested Obert in connection with two cases of murder which occurred on 3 May 2026 in Victory Park, Kadoma.

He said Obert had a domestic dispute with his wife, who sought refuge at their daughter’s home on 2 May 2026. On the following day, Com Nyathi said, Obert followed her there armed with a kitchen knife, and attacked both victims.

“He stabbed his daughter, who was nine months pregnant, multiple times before turning on his wife, whom he stabbed in the neck. Both victims succumbed to their injuries,” said Comm Nyathi.

Police have reiterated calls for communities to say no to domestic violence and murder.