Two women up for murder

Crime Reporter

TWO women have appeared in court facing murder charges in separate cases.

One of them has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the other one in custody pending mental health examinations.

In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority said Stacy Mkandhla (27) was convicted by the High Court in Gweru on murder charges.

The court heard that on February 10, 2024, Mkandhla returned from an all-night prayer and found her half-naked husband and another woman in their matrimonial bed.

This did not go down well with Mkandhla and she attacked her husband’s mistress using fists. She then armed herself with a kitchen knife.

However, Mkandhla’s husband managed to take the knife away from her and left the two quarrelling in the house.

Mkandhla then took another knife and stabbed the now deceased once on the right side of the head, once on the breast, and once on the back.

The now-deceased fled from the house but collapsed and died on the street.

A police report was made, leading to Mkandhla’s arrest.

She has since been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Meanwhile, a 33-year-old woman from Chief Zimuto’s area in Masvingo appeared before the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court facing murder charges.

Allegations are that on September 17, 2024, the accused person met someone and told her that she had assaulted her grandmother.

The informant rushed to their elderly woman’s homestead and upon arrival, she noticed a shovel outside the kitchen and blood spots leading to her bedroom.

She found the elderly woman struggling to breathe and quickly rushed back home to advise her mother and uncle.

The trio rushed to the scene and hired a vehicle to ferry the elderly woman to hospital. However, she died before the vehicle arrived at the scene.

A police report was made, leading to the arrest of the accused person and the recovery of the murder weapon.

The accused person was remanded in custody to October 7, 2024, pending examination in terms of the Mental Health Act.

The NPA has since encouraged members of the public to desist from violence and resolve their disputes amicably or seek third-party mediation.