News / Regional
Shock, fear and anger grips Gwanda
12 Jan 2015 at 06:28hrs | Views
SHOCK, fear and anger have gripped Gwanda town following the grisly killing of a 35-year-old woman by her estranged husband on Friday evening.
The woman's semi-naked and mutilated body was retrieved on Saturday morning and residents watched in horror, as her blood-drenched body, with an okapi knife still stuck in her neck, was put into a steel police coffin.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesman, Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident and said they had launched a manhunt for the suspect, 36-year-old Peter Phiri, whose last known address is 1746 Dulibadzimu Township in Beitbridge.
Phiri's ex-wife Sikhathele Mpofu died on the spot from multiple stab wounds at around 6pm on Friday after being ambushed by her former spouse near Gwanda Rural District Council workshop close to the railway line, as she walked home from town.
Phiri allegedly cut off pieces of flesh from the woman's body. Although Ndebele said investigations to establish the motive of the killing were underway, sources said the two recently separated resulting in Mpofu moving out of her matrimonial home in Beitbridge to stay in Gwanda.
Other reports indicated that Mpofu had caused the arrest of her husband in Beitbridge before relocating, resulting in the feud. The couple reportedly had three children from their marriage of over a decade. Gwanda residents have called on the police to work around the clock to bring the culprit to book.
"This is unacceptable, we cannot have women being killed like goats. The police must hunt down the suspect and bring him to book," Nomsa Moyo said.
Ndebele urged members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to come forward and assist police investigations.
The woman's semi-naked and mutilated body was retrieved on Saturday morning and residents watched in horror, as her blood-drenched body, with an okapi knife still stuck in her neck, was put into a steel police coffin.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesman, Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident and said they had launched a manhunt for the suspect, 36-year-old Peter Phiri, whose last known address is 1746 Dulibadzimu Township in Beitbridge.
Phiri's ex-wife Sikhathele Mpofu died on the spot from multiple stab wounds at around 6pm on Friday after being ambushed by her former spouse near Gwanda Rural District Council workshop close to the railway line, as she walked home from town.
Other reports indicated that Mpofu had caused the arrest of her husband in Beitbridge before relocating, resulting in the feud. The couple reportedly had three children from their marriage of over a decade. Gwanda residents have called on the police to work around the clock to bring the culprit to book.
"This is unacceptable, we cannot have women being killed like goats. The police must hunt down the suspect and bring him to book," Nomsa Moyo said.
Ndebele urged members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to come forward and assist police investigations.
Source - Southern Eye
