Tragedy struck in Bulawayo as a 26-year-old man murdered his pregnant girlfriend. The suspect, identified as Obvious Velani Sibanda, allegedly butchered his partner, Nothabo Ncube, aged 26, in a fit of rage. The incident occurred in the Emakhandeni high-density suburb of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
According to Inspector Abednico Ncube, the Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, both Sibanda and Ncube were employed by the same company. On the fateful day of February 5, after finishing their work shift at around 6pm, the couple proceeded to Ncube’s residence. It was there that tragedy unfolded.
Inspector Ncube explained that Sibanda confronted Ncube about a frequent caller to her cellphone named Gift. In response, Ncube revealed that Gift was her boyfriend and the father of her unborn child. This revelation reportedly did not sit well with Sibanda, who then grabbed a metal bar from behind the door and struck Ncube on the head, rendering her unconscious. In a horrific turn of events, Sibanda continued to assault his girlfriend repeatedly with the same rod until she tragically lost her life.
“Nothabo told Sibanda that Gift was her boyfriend and he was responsible for her pregnancy. Sibanda said this did not go well with him and he took a metal bar which was behind the door, struck the girlfriend once on her head and she became unconscious. Sibanda continued striking her several times using that same rod and she died on the spot,” the police spokesperson said.
The distressing incident took place within Ncube’s residence, and it was not until around 9pm that Sibanda finally contacted his parents to inform them of the dreadful act he had committed. Subsequently, Sibanda turned himself in to the police, acknowledging his responsibility for the heinous crime. Meanwhile, Ncube’s lifeless body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), where medical professionals officially pronounced her deceased. Her remains currently await a post-mortem examination.
Inspector Ncube, in light of this heartbreaking event, appealed to the public, urging individuals to seek peaceful resolutions to their conflicts instead of resorting to violence, which all too often results in unnecessary loss of life. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and encouraged individuals to seek advice from trusted elders, contact organizations specializing in gender-based violence such as Emthonjeni Women Forum and Musasa, as well as rely on the support of church members and the police.
