ZIMBABWE – A 32-year old Zaka man divorced his wife for continually being on her menstrual cycle before trying to kill her by torching the hut she and her aunt were sleeping in with 10 litres of petrol, after which he ran away leaving behind a suicide note.
At least seven people were killed by their partners in separate incidents in 149 cases of domestic violence recorded countrywide in Zimbabwe in one week of June this year.
The ditched wife and her aunt escaped the inferno with serious burns and are admitted at Ndanga Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The incident occurred in Mashingaidze Village, Chief Ndanga in Zaka, when Lazarus Mutyoro (32) — who had earlier on divorced his wife, Chipo Mapurengwe (19) of Masikati Village under the same chief, after she had gone for too long on her menstrual cycle — went to Jesa Ganure (46)’s homestead in the same village and accused her of having bewitched Chipo and causing the break-up.
Apparently, Ganure is Chipo’s aunt. Police spokesman for Masvingo province, Inspector Tinaye Matake confirmed the incident to the Sunday News on Friday last week.
He said Mutyoro divorced his wife after she went on her menstrual period without stopping sometime ago, claiming that she had been bewitched by her relatives and that he was no longer enjoying his conjugal rights. After the divorce, Mapurengwe went and stayed with her aunt in the same village.
Inspector Matake said sometime last week, Mutyoro went to Ganure’s homestead with10 litres of petrol with the intention of dousing the hut in which she was sleeping and found Mapurengwe and her aunt sleeping in one of the kitchen huts.
On arrival he forced the door open, entered and started accusing Ganure who was sleeping beside the fireplace of bewitching Mapurengwe and causing their marriage break up. He then poured the 10 litres of petrol into the fire torching the hut in the process before he disappeared into the thick of the night.
Ganure and Mapurengwe were, however, caught by surprise and were slow to bolt out of the flame engulfed house leading to them sustaining burns.
Ganure was later rescued by a neighbour, Tinos Nhika, after she fell down while trying to escape from the raging flames of the fast collapsing roof. A report was later made to the police who have since launched a manhunt for Mutyoro who left a suicide note.
It has not been ascertained whether he committed suicide or is in hiding and police in Masvingo are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to his arrest to contact them or any nearest police station.
“We received a report of that nature. We are treating the case as attempted murder and we appeal to members of the public who may have information as to the whereabouts of Mutyoro to report to any nearest police station. He left a suicide not but it has not been ascertained if he committed suicide.
“We also want to urge people to value the sanctity of life and to solve their disputes without necessarily resorting to violence. They should use all the avenues of dialogue at their disposal,” he said.