Nyanga man murders wife, sets her ablaz
Story by Peter Chivhima
Domestic violence continues to ravage families, with the latest chilling incident being that of a Nyanga man who allegedly murdered his wife before setting her ablaze.
Benjamin Mhungira of Samusodza village in Nyanga allegedly killed his wife before he set her ablaze, in a stark reminder of the ugly face of domestic violence.
It is alleged that Mhungira’s reign of terror extended beyond his wife, ruthlessly destroying groceries bought by his sons, claiming they favoured their mother.
Allegations suggest that after attending a local church service together with the now deceased, Mhungira brutally attacked his wife striking her twice on the head with an iron bar, placed a gas tank under their bed and set it ablaze before locking her body inside the house.
The late Mrs Mhungira’s lifeless body was burnt beyond recognition with only her charred chest and partial legs remaining visible.
The rallying call remains that domestic disputes must be resolved amicably.
Marriage Counselor Apostle Luckson Chari said, “My advice to the nation is that whenever you are abused in a marriage, you must live separately and move on with your life before you are killed. When they are staying together, they are accustomed to each other. But when they separate, sometimes that separation will cause them to miss each other. So, when they come together again after the temporary separation, they will be able to stay together and live a few lessons.”
After committing the heinous crime, Mhungira allegedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison and throwing himself into a nearby well.
He was apprehended by the community where he later narrated how he orchestrated the murder, before being handed over to the police.
The victim’s torso was buried in Samusodza village, Nyanga, on Saturday, while the alleged perpetrator remains in pretrial incarceration.
