Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
In a chilling contrast to the celebration of love and family, for Happiness Chimbangu, this year’s Valentine’s Day will be remembered not for roses and romance but for a court appearance that underscored the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of violence.
Chimbangu, the Cowdray Park woman accused of murdering her husband and their two children in a horrific act of violence two weeks ago, appeared at the Western Commonage Court on Valentine’s Day for a routine remand hearing.
The 34-year-old mother who allegedly used a digger to commit the murders, sat in solitude in the court holding cells before briefly appearing in the dock on Friday.
The hearing, which was procedural in nature, focused on her remand status and the continuation of her detention as she awaits a trial date from the High Court.
Western Commonage magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze remanded her to 28 February.
Allegations are that on Wednesday, 29 January at about 8pm, Happiness was at her place of residence in Cowdray Park with her now late two children, Promise Chimbangu (4) and Prudence Chimbangu (7 months) when her husband Edwin arrived home from his vending business in the Central Business District (CBD).
Upon his arrival, allegations are that he enquired as to why she had not prepared supper for the family yet she had everything at her disposal.
Instead, Happiness raised her voice at him threatening to kill herself with a kitchen knife that she had picked from the kitchen table.
Sensing danger, the husband quickly grabbed Happiness and disarmed her.
Soon after disarming her, allegations are that Edwin called for the assistance of their two church elders and his mother-in-law (Happiness’ mother) who all came and resolved the matter and left to their places of residence. After having tea as supper at around 11pm all the family members retired to bed in the same room, except the accused person who remained seated on the bed.
During the same night at around 1am, allegations are that Happiness armed herself with a metal digger which she had borrowed from a co-tenant the previous day.
While the now deceased were fast asleep, Happiness struck Edwin first, three times, once on the throat and twice on the jaws resulting in his death.
She went on to strike Promise (4) three times on the neck resulting in his death.
After ascertaining that the two had died, Happiness went on to strike the seven-month-old Prudence three times on the head resulting in her death, the court was told.
After the whole act, Happiness went out of the house and proceeded to one of her other church members where she narrated what she had done.
The case sent shock-waves through the community, with many struggling to comprehend the brutality of the alleged acts.
The Valentine’s Day hearing served as a grim reminder of the lives lost and the shattered family that could have been celebrating the day of love together. -@nyeve14
