Man kills cousin over infidelity

Victor Sibanda

VICTORIA FALS -A man from Chisuma Communal lands in Jambezi, under chief Mvuthu’s area appeared before a Victoria Falls magistrate Wednesday facing a charge of murdering his cousin brother whom he accused of having an extra marital affair with his wife.

Qondani Ngwenya (37) was not asked to plead when he appeared in court for initial remand. He was remanded in custody to 31 May, 2022 and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecutors told the court that on 15 May 2022 at around 3am, Ngwenya was returning home from a beer drink  at Chisuma Business Centre when he coincidentally met his cousin brother, Laiton Ngwenya who was walking to his church shrine. The accused allegedly picked up a stone and struck the deceased on the head. The suspect allegedly accused the victim  of having a sexual relationship with his wife. 

The state further alleges that the suspect  grabbed a bamboo stick that was used for religious purposes by the victim and assaulted him severely all over the body. It is the state ‘s allegation that the suspect went on to pound the deceased with rocks and headed to his homestead, leaving the victim unconscious in a pool of blood. Two people from the neighborhood are said to have rushed to the scene to investigate after hearing and  they found the victim unconscious. They reportedly ferried him to  Chisuma clinic where he  was pronounced dead on admission. A report was made to the police leading to the accused’s arrest at his home where police found him stone drunk.

Police are on record conscientising members of the public nationwide to desist from resorting to violence in settling disputes. Police have also advised the public to seek counseling  or make use of traditional leaders for arbitration instead of resorting to violence.