Man butchers wife to death over a solar panel

Police in Masvingo have arrested a 31-year-old man from Bikita who allegedly fatally assaulted his wife following a misunderstanding over a solar panel before dumping her body into a nearby dam.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the incident which occurred last week.

Asst Insp Mazula said it is suspected that John Chandimhara of Murambiwa Village under Chief Mkanganwi in Bikita fatally assaulted his wife, Kerecencia Zindoga (31), of the same village following a misunderstanding over a broken solar panel which the couple had borrowed from a neighbour.

Asst Insp Mazula said on the fateful day, Chandimhara sent his wife to return a broken solar panel to their neighbour after the couple's nine-year-old son accidentally broke it while playing.

It is alleged that the neighbour rejected the solar panel and demanded a new one.

Chandimhara insisted that his wife should return the solar panel to its owner.

"A heated argument is said to have then ensued between the two resulting in Chandimhara assaulting his now deceased wife with open hands," said Asst Insp Mazula.

The police said the now deceased Zindoga's body was discovered the following morning by a passerby half naked, with a swollen face, bruises and blood stains all over her body.

Police attended the scene and the deceased's body was then ferried to Silveira Mission Hospital for post-mortem.

Chandimhara is still in custody assisting the police with investigations.

He will soon appear in court if formally charged.

Cases of domestic violence have been on the increase with the latest indication that they rose 500 fold during the past year.