Man kills wife over isitshwala, sleeps with her corpse

A 40-year-old man from Gokomere in Masvingo allegedly beat up and strangled his wife, angry that she had served him isitshwala with vegetables.

Paul Chiumba on Sunday allegedly flew off the handle and battered his wife, Sukai Chiutsi, 39, and throttled her, spent the night in bed with the body and pretended she had died in her sleep.

The woman's family has demanded 15 head of cattle to be paid by her husband's family, before she can be buried.

Relatives told Chronicle that Chiutsi's body was bruised all over and her neck looked broken when they went to collect her body at the mortuary. They made a police report, leading to Chiumba's arrest on Thursday.

The family alleged that Chiumba had a history of being abusive towards his wife.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna could neither confirm nor deny the incident.

"We haven't got the details of the case you're referring to. You can contact our head office for details," said Asst Insp Nduna.

But a post-mortem report in Chronicle's possession shows Chiutsi suffocated due to strangulation. Her trachea was broken and the whole neck had free play.

Her body had scratch marks suggesting she could have scratched herself while trying to break her attacker's choke hold.

Sources alleged Chiumba phoned his in-laws soon after killing his wife at around midnight, allegedly after a misunderstanding over relish, telling them she was ill.

"When Chiumba phoned me, he told me that Sukai, my young sister was very ill and could not speak. I asked him if he had assaulted her and he denied having been violent. I smelt a rat because the couple had a history of domestic violence," said Shingairai Ngongoni nee Chiutsi, the late Sukai's sister.

"I told Chiumba to look for transport so that he could take her to hospital. The following morning at around 4AM, he called saying she had become unconscious."

Shingairai said at around 12:50PM, her brother, Stephen called and informed her that Sukai had died.

"We have empirical evidence of his violent behaviour and it is likely that he strangled her. There is no reason to beat about the bush trying to search for the culprit when everything points to one man," said a grief-stricken Fungai, younger sister to the late Sukai.

Chiumba family representatives were reluctant to talk to Chronicle but they reportedly told mourners they would not accept the suggestion that their son killed his wife.

"Our in-laws claim that we murdered their daughter but the case is yet to go to court. Only the court can determine whether he is guilty of murder or not. We are not condoning domestic violence but even if we are at fault, our in-laws should not accuse him of murdering their daughter," a family representative allegedly said.

Chiumba later arrived at the homestead in the company of detectives for indications.

Even though he was in handcuffs, he daringly charged at this reporter threatening him with unspecified action if the story got published.

"If ever I see my story in the paper or pictures of my homestead you will be in for it," he erupted before being ordered to calm down by the detectives.

Family spokesperson, Tafadzwa Chiutsi Mutasa said: "Unless the Chiumba family gives in to our demand for 15 head of cattle or its equivalent, burial will not take place."

"We are sticking to our guns, we are not moving an inch on 15 head of cattle. Sukai was murdered, so someone should pay," said Mutasa, brother to the late Sukai.

Village head Chikumbezi appealed to the two families to reach a compromise so that burial could go ahead.