A quiet morning in Besa Village, Seke, took a violent turn on July 10th, when a heated argument between a husband and wife over finances escalated into an attempted murder.
It was around 5 am, while their children slept soundly, that 39-year-old Collen Makhuludza roused his 32-year-old wife, Jilda Chihlango, with a proposition for a “morning glory” session. However, before Chihlango could let him feast on her honey jar, she inquired about the meagre income her husband had brought home. The conversation, seemingly taking longer than Makhuludza’s ‘slithering bedroom anaconda’ could tolerate, quickly turned sour. Realizing that his hopes for a juicy morning were dashed, Makhuludza flew into a rage, his anger escalating into the violent attack.
Makhuludza then found himself on the wrong side of the law after he brutally attacked his wife, Jilda Chihlango with an axe, landing five blows to her head. The attack, which occurred around 5 am, was fuelled by Makhuludza’s anger after Chihlango threatened to divorce him for failing to provide for her.
The court heard that the couple had been discussing the meagre amount of money Makhuludza had earned from menial jobs. This sparked a heated argument, culminating in Chihlango’s declaration that she no longer loved him.
“The misunderstanding arose from the discussion since Makhuludza had brought little money,” said Prosecutor Ms Pamela Dzinduwa. “As a result of the misunderstanding, Chihlango told her husband that she no longer loved him.”
Makhuludza, consumed by rage, reacted violently. He grabbed a small axe from their wardrobe and struck his wife repeatedly on the head. The vicious attack only ended when Chihlango managed to grab the axe and wrestle it away from her husband, both of them eventually escaping the bedroom.
“The fight ensued and Makhuludza tried to strike her for the sixth time, but Chihlango managed to hold the axe and they wrestled for the axe until they both got out of the room,” said Ms Dzinduwa.
Makhuludza, fearing the consequences of his actions, fled the scene. However, villagers, alerted by the commotion, gave chase and apprehended him, eventually escorting him to the police.
Chihlango, left with deep cuts on her head, is still recovering from the brutal attack. The incident has left the community in shock, highlighting the devastating impact of domestic violence.
Appearing before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa, Makhuludza pleaded guilty to five counts of attempted murder. The magistrate initially sentenced him to nine years imprisonment but suspended one year on condition of good behaviour.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours, a time often referred to as the “morning glory hour” – a term used to describe the time when couples engage in intimate activities. However, this morning, the “morning glory hour” turned into a nightmare for Chihlango. Makhuludza’s actions have ensured that he will not be enjoying any “morning glory hours” for the next eight years. Whether Chihlango will be waiting for him upon his release remains to be seen.
