'Wife murderer axes daughter'

A MAN from Bulilima bludgeoned his wife to death before axing his six-year-old daughter, leaving her for dead, after accusing the woman of bringing home a new pair of shoes bought by a boyfriend. Themba Ndlovu, 28, fled from his homestead following the horrific attack which occurred last Friday at around 4PM in Gampu area.

Ndlovu's wife, Ntombi Gumbo, 26, died on the spot soon after the attack while their daughter is battling for life at Plumtree District Hospital where she has been admitted for the past four days. Villagers described the horrific scene at the Ndlovu homestead in the aftermath of the attack.

They said Gumbo was axed on the neck and her head was left hanging by a small chunk of flesh. The girl had been axed on the head and back. Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Thabani Mkhwananzi, confirmed the incident and said police had launched a manhunt for the suspect.

"I can confirm that we received a case of a man who killed his 26-year-old wife Ntombi Gumbo before injuring his daughter. Investigations are underway and the suspect is still at large. We appeal to anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the nearest police station," said Sgt Mkhwananzi.

Thandiwe Ngwenya, an advisor to Chief Gampu whose jurisdiction covers the area, said she attended the murder scene.

Ngwenya said she found the six-year-old girl lying beside her mother's body groaning and they rushed her to Ntoli Clinic where she was later referred to Plumtree District Hospital.

"When we got to the scene after being alerted by other villagers, we found the dead woman and her daughter in the kitchen hut and Ndlovu had already fled. He axed his wife on the neck three times and it appears that he wanted to chop her head off completely," she said.

"He almost succeeded as Gumbo's head was only still attached to the neck by a small chunk of flesh. It was a horrific sight indeed. The girl was lying there close to her mother and she was covered in blood and bleeding profusely."

Ngwenya said Ndlovu and his wife were staying at a homestead whose owner, Busani Ncube, lives in South Africa.

She said when Ncube arrived a few days before the incident, he discovered that there was a row between Ndlovu and his wife over a new pair of takkies that she had brought home after visiting her parents.

Ngwenya said Gumbo revealed to her husband that she had got the shoes from her mother but he accused her of having an affair.

"Gumbo had visited her parents in Mazwaligwe area and returned with a new pair of takkies and her husband accused her of receiving them from a boyfriend but she denied the accusations," she said.

"On the day of the incident, Ncube realised that there was a lot of tension between the couple and he left them to call his brother to intervene.

"When he returned a few minutes later with his brother, the door had been locked and he heard screams coming from the kitchen hut. Upon inquiring, he found Gumbo dead and her daughter wailing in pain."

She said they assumed that Ndlovu axed his wife and then turned on his daughter with the intention of killing her as well.

Headman Manguba, whose jurisdiction covers the area, said the incident had shocked the entire community.

He said Ndlovu had previously lived in Lupane and settled in Bulilima after he was assigned to look after Ncube's homestead.

Headman Manguba said mourners were gathered at Gumbo's parents' homestead in Mazwaligwe area in Bulilima and burial was expected today.