Zimbabwe News Online: Gokwe man axes sister inlaw on the head

Gokwe man axes sister inlaw on the head
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Chronicle on 08 September, 2010 04:07:00
 
Police said the suspect, 23-year-old Jaison Chavhunduka of Nyambira Village,
Chief Njelele in Gokwe South, immediately fled from the scene soon after
committing the crime.
Chavhunduka later attempted to commit suicide by drinking a pesticide before the
police managed to arrest him, the police said. The suspect allegedly committed
the heinous crime in the presence of the deceased woman’s six-year-old son who
was in a kitchen hut with his mother.
Midlands Province police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana confirmed the
incident which occurred last Saturday at about 9am at the now deceased woman’s
homestead in Nyambira Village under Chief Njelele in Gokwe South.
He said on the fateful day, Chavhunduka went to the woman’s homestead and
indicated to her that he wanted to resolve their dispute which started sometime
in August this year.
“Chavhunduka told the deceased woman that he wanted to discuss with her the
issue of her behaviour, saying he had information the deceased was influencing
his wife to engage in extra-marital affairs.
“The now deceased woman refused to meet him and indicated that she was not
prepared to discuss anything with him,” said Insp Chademana.
He said the woman’s response did not go down well with Chavhunduka who then
struck her once on the head with an axe. Insp Chademana said the woman fell down
and lost consciousness.
“The accused committed this offence in the presence of the woman’s
six-year-old son. The boy rushed to inform his father, a brother to the accused,
who was working in his fields,” he said.
Insp Chademana said the woman was ferried to a nearby clinic but died on the
way.
“Meanwhile, Chavhunduka fled from the scene immediately after committing the
crime. He later drank a pesticide in an attempt to commit suicide before the
police arrested him. Chavhunduka is receiving treatment under police guard at
Gokwe District Hospital,” he said.
Insp Chademana said the matter was reported to the police at Gokwe who attended
to the scene.
“The body of the deceased woman was transferred to Gokwe District Hospital,”
he said.
Insp Chademana appealed to members of the public to desist from trying to solve
their misunderstandings without seeking advice from the police, relatives or the
local leadership.
“We always encourage members of the public to seek the opinion and advice of
third parties whenever they have misunderstandings. This helps them solve their
disputes amicably,” he said.
In an unrelated incident, four members of the same family died on the spot while
four others were seriously injured when a vehicle they were travelling in veered
off the road and overturned.
Insp Chademana said the incident occurred on Friday at around 1.30am at the 4km
peg along the Gweru-Bulawayo Road.
“Three juveniles and a female adult died on the spot while four others who
were travelling in the same vehicle sustained injuries. The injured were rushed
to Gweru Provincial Hospital,” he said.
Insp Chademana urged motorists to avoid travelling for long hours without taking
a break to avoid fatigue. He said the police suspected the accident to have been
a result of fatigue on the part of the driver.
“When tired, motorists should pull off the road and take time to rest before
proceeding with their journeys,” said Insp Chademana.