Mother dies after night out turns deadly

A 41-year-old woman from Mutare's Chikanga suburb has died following an alleged domestic violence incident involving her husband, in a tragedy that has left neighbours shocked and renewed concerns about violence within families.

Samantha Chuma died after allegedly being assaulted by her husband, Tawanda Muradzikwa, 34, following a dispute that reportedly began when she left their four-month-old baby at home while she visited a local bar on Wednesday.

According to neighbours, Chuma left the infant in the care of her older children before going out. When Muradzikwa returned home, he reportedly found the baby crying and went in search of his wife.

A tenant at the property, Petronella Gwenzi, said she later took the crying infant to the bar where Chuma was drinking.

"I found Chuma seated there and handed the baby to her. She immediately started breastfeeding the child and the couple later returned home together," Gwenzi said.

The situation reportedly deteriorated after the couple returned to their residence.

Gwenzi said that later in the evening, the couple's eldest child approached her seeking a torch because the baby was crying and the house was dark.

When she accompanied the child back to the room, she found Chuma seriously injured.

"I accompanied her to the room and used my torch to light the house. I found Muradzikwa holding Chuma while they were both on the floor," she said.

"She had a wound at the back of her head and was bleeding."

Other residents were alerted and police were subsequently called to the scene.

Neighbours described the couple's relationship as troubled, alleging that it had been marked by repeated incidents of domestic violence and police intervention.

"They loved each other but they were both short-tempered," Gwenzi said.

"There were times when Samantha would attack him with a knife and police reports would be made. They regularly fought, especially when alcohol was involved, and there was a binding-over protection order between them."

She added that Muradzikwa appeared distraught after realising his wife had died.

"He placed her on the bed and poured water on her, begging her to wake up. He kept saying that if she was gone, he also wanted to die. It was a painful scene and police officers had to restrain him."

Another neighbour, Pamela Nyagusi, said the couple's disputes were well known within the community.

"They often drank together at local bars and arguments frequently followed," she said.

"There were many occasions when she reported him to the police after alleged assaults. We are devastated that it has ended this way."

The couple's children have since been placed in the care of relatives while investigations continue.

When journalists visited the family home in Chikanga One on Thursday morning, police officers were still processing the scene and gathering evidence.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka referred inquiries to national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who was not immediately available for comment.

The incident has once again highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence, a problem that community leaders and advocacy groups continue to identify as a major social challenge affecting families across the country.