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Freedom Mupanedemo

Midlands Bureau

A 25-year-old woman from Gweru has been arrested on murder charges after she scalded her husband with hot cooking oil and he died two days later from his injuries.

Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, said the suspect, Grace Mazhata, was arrested after she fled her home in Hertfordshire suburb, Gweru, after the incident last Monday.

The deceased husband has been identified as Alois Zaranyika.

“It is alleged that Mazhata (25), left home for a church meeting and returned home on 24 May 2021. She found her husband not home but Zaranyika returned the same day at around 8pm,” said Insp Mahoko.

A misunderstanding arose between the couple resulting in the wife dousing the husband with boiling cooking oil and he fled next door. 

But Mazhata followed the husband armed with a log and allegedly assaulted him all over the body, before being restrained by some neighbours.

Insp Mahoko said Zaranyika was taken to hospital where he died two days later. Police then tracked down the wife to Harare where she had fled to. She is now assisting police with investigations, he said.

In another incident, police in Kwekwe are investigating a suspected murder case in which a 61-year-old businessman from Forestvale suburb was found dead in his house last Tuesday night. Insp Mahoko said the body of the businessman Mr Stanley Munatsi, was found lying in the lounge facing upwards with a huge stone on his chest.

It is said some neighbours saw Mr Munatsi’s main house door wide open and went to investigate.

Police observed that the body also had some bruises on the chest and a deep cut on the back of the head.

Information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects is now being sought.