Chronicle EditorThupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 42-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean woman who killed her husband and dumped his limbs in three pit latrines has been certified medically unfit to stand trial by South African doctors.
Nancy Majonhi had missed court proceedings more than three times due to deteriorating health.
She was supposed to stand trial at the Mogwase Magistrates Court in North West.
The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mr Henry Mamothame said the case was yesterday postponed to November 9 for further medical attention and further mental evaluation.
“A medical report from a hospital in which Majonhi is admitted was submitted in court today. It confirmed that owing to her ill-health, she is not fit to attend court,” said Mr Mamothame.
“In relation to her mental evaluation, the medical report indicates her reluctance to eat and take prescribed medication as a concerning factor.
She will remain in hospital under severe observation in an effort to improve her health and mental status before her next court appearance”.
He said they were hoping for her speedy recovery in order to proceed with the bail hearing and the murder trial.
The State, he added, intends to oppose the bail application.
Mr Mamothame said in 2015, Majonhi was staying with her husband, Prosper Chipungare (44) at a rented room in Ledig near Sun City when they had a fight in July of the same year.
He said during the fight, Majonhi allegedly assaulted her husband with a hammer until he fainted.
“She then hacked him with a spade and threw the body parts into three different pit latrines before cleaning the crime scene out. Subsequent to the alleged killing, she went to Sun City police station where she reported her husband as missing,” said Mr Mamothame.
He said soon after making her ‘report’ to the police, the woman travelled to Zimbabwe, where she later confessed to her family and in-laws about the murder.
The official said the two families then arranged to travel to South Africa, Sun City where the accused handed herself over to the police.
She later showed police the different pit latrines where she threw the body parts, six years ago.
“An investigation by the police is still underway following the retrieval of a skull and bones which are currently subjected to DNA tests. She will remain in hospital for further health and mental care before her next court appearance,” said Mr Mamothame.
In May this year, a 32-year-old Zimbabwean man, Noah Makula was slapped with six life sentences in the neighbouring country for killing his girlfriend and their five children.
The man was convicted of killing with an axe, Nomzamo Mhlanti, and five children while they were sleeping in their shack on November 24 last year in the Eastern Cape.
It is reported that three of the victims were his biological children, among them a six-month-old toddler.
The motive behind the murder remains a mystery and the bodies of the six victims were discovered by the woman’s 16-year-old son who then made a report. — @tupeyo
Online Reporter