A 63-year-old woman from Gwanda has been arrested for allegedly killing her 70-year-old husband by striking him twice on the head with an axe while trying to s...
A 63-year-old woman from Gwanda has been arrested for allegedly killing her 70-year-old husband by striking him twice on the head with an axe while trying to stop him from assaulting her daughter.
The incident occurred on August 11, 2026, at about 5pm at Matshetsheni Village in Gwanda, Matabeleland South. The deceased, identified as Harold Ngwenya, was at home with his wife, Miriam Ndlovu, and their daughter, Happiness Ndlovu, when an altercation broke out between Ngwenya and his stepdaughter.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Stanford Mguni, confirmed the incident. He said the dispute started after Happiness accused Ngwenya of being a witch.
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According to police, Ngwenya then struck Happiness with the back of an axe on the upper left side of her eye. Ndlovu intervened to stop her husband from continuing the assault on her daughter.
“During the process the accused person overpowered Ngwenya, took the axe and struck him twice on the head. Ngwenya fell to the ground and died on the spot,” Asst Insp Mguni said.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest. Ngwenya’s body was taken to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital Mortuary.
Police said investigations into the incident are continuing. Ndlovu remains in custody in connection with the alleged killing.
Asst Insp Mguni urged members of the public to avoid violence when dealing with family and other disputes.
“The accused person has been arrested and investigations are underway. We urge members of the public to desist from engaging in violence when faced with disputes,” he said.
He said disputes could instead be taken to traditional leaders or family members for mediation and resolution. Police also warned against carrying dangerous weapons, saying they can be used to commit serious offences.
