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The youngest child, aged nine months, was reportedly strapped onto its mother’s back when the fatal assault occurred, on Friday at about 7pm. The other two were aged six and 12.
Philani Maphosa (31) claimed the woman’s husband was having an affair with his wife.
He allegedly fled to a nearby village after killing Ms Mncedisani Sibanda (37).
Maphosa handed himself over to members of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee after failing to commit suicide.
Acting police spokesperson for Matabeleland South, Sergeant Loveness Mangena, confirmed the gruesome incident yesterday.
She said Maphosa stormed into Mr Jethro Ndlovu’s homestead and found his wife having supper with her children.
“He demanded to know the whereabouts of Mr Ndlovu. He said Mr Ndlovu was having an affair with his wife,” said Sgt Mangena.
She said Ms Sibanda went outside out of earshot of the children and began to reason with him.
“This angered Maphosa, who accused her of taking her husband’s side. He got very angry and started assaulting Ms Sibanda, who in turn fled into the kitchen hut where her two older children were still eating. She secured the door behind her,” said Sgt Mangena.
The police spokesperson said Maphosa broke the door by kicking it.
“It hit Ms Sibanda who was holding it on the other side and she fell to the floor. Maphosa snatched a hoe and struck her on the head at least five times, splitting her skull open,” she said.
Sgt Mangena said when Maphosa realised he had killed her he fled to Domboshawa Village in the Natisa area.
“The eldest child called neighbours to the gory scene and efforts to revive Ms Sibanda were unsuccessful. She is suspected to have died on the spot,” she said.
Sgt Mangena said Maphosa handed himself over to Neighbourhood Watch Committee members on Sunday.
“He told them he had tried to commit suicide because the killing was haunting him. They notified the village head, Mr Patrick Lumumba Dube, who made a police report, leading to Maphosa’s arrest. Ms Sibanda’s body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem,” she said.
Sgt Mangena urged people to shun violence when resolving disputes.
Maphosa (31) yesterday appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mrs Thobekile Mkhosana-Matibe facing a charge of murder.
He was not formally charged and was remanded in custody to 12 September.
The court confirmed his warned and cautioned statements that he made to the police and advised him to apply for bail at the High Court in view of the seriousness of the offence he is facing.
Mr Malvern Nzombe appeared for the State.
Online Reporter