Man commits suicide after axing wife

A  26-year-old Mutoko man from Chasauka village under Chief Charehwa hanged himself on a tree fearing that he had killed his wife whom he struck several times with an axe at the height of a domestic dispute, police have said.

Wissam Chasauka allegedly took his life on Wednesday after striking his wife Moleen Mazarura (18) with an axe.

Mashonaland East Acting provincial Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Tendai Mwanza yesterday confirmed the incident.

"We received a report of one man identified as Wissam Chasauka who committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree after striking his wife several times with an axe," he said.

Asst Insp Mwanza said Chasauka and Mazarura had a misunderstanding which prompted his wife to flee from the matrimonial home to seek  refuge at her uncle's homestead in the same village.

At around 9pm on the fateful day, police said, Chasauka followed Mazarura to her uncle's homestead and forced open the door to the hut she was sleeping in before striking her with an axe on the head, arm and leg.

Mazarura cried for help prompting neighbours and her relatives to rush to the scene and rushed her to Mutoko Hospital where her condition was said to be stable.

Police said the following day Mazarura's relatives teamed up with neighbours to look for Chasauka who was later found hanging from a tree in the bush.

They reported the case to the police and Chasauka's body was taken to Mutoko Hospital mortuary. Asst Insp Mwanza urged people to solve domestic disputes amicably.