A 48-year-old woman has been arrested for the murder of her boyfriend’s wife, causing shockwaves across the Hwange community.
Odith Sibanda, the accused, reportedly attacked Siphathisiwe Ngwenya with an axe handle, killing her instantly.
According to witnesses, Ngwenya arrived home from a Zanu-PF rally to discover her husband, Themba Moyo, missing. Ngwenya went to Sibanda’s farmhouse to confront her husband, suspecting an adulterous romance between Moyo and Sibanda.
Ngwenya and Sibanda got into a furious argument, with the latter denying any involvement with Moyo.
In a fit of rage, Sibanda grabbed an axe and attacked Ngwenya, striking her on the head. Tragically, Ngwenya died on the spot. The authorities were alerted, and Sibanda was subsequently arrested and is now facing a murder charge.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson for Matabeleland North police, Inspector Glory Banda said:
“On the 31st of July 2023, police arrested 48-year-old woman Odith Sibanda for murder. Circumstances are that at around 3 am on the same day, Siphathisiwe Ngwenya went to the accused’s homestead where she confronted her about an alleged extramarital affair,” said Inspector Banda.
According to Inspector Banda, Ngwenya attempted to disarm Sibanda during the argument, leading to a struggle over the axe.
Tragically, Sibanda struck Ngwenya with the handle of the axe, causing her to collapse and lose consciousness. Despite the efforts of Sibanda and Moyo to render first aid, Ngwenya succumbed to her injuries.
Inspector Banda took the opportunity to remind citizens of the importance of peaceful conflict resolution.
“Investigations are still ongoing, and we urge our community members not to take matters into their own hands. Resorting to violence only leads to tragedy. Carrying weapons in public is strongly discouraged as it poses a risk to the safety of the community,” he stated.
