The High Court in Masvingo is hearing a case in which a Mwenezi woman stands accused of murdering her husband after allegedly discovering him in a compromising situation with his former wife. Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, a man has admitted to assaulting his ex-wife’s boyfriend, citing provocation.
Daisy Makanaka Moyo, 25, from Headman Mabhena, under Chief Negari’s jurisdiction, appeared before Justice Sunsley Zisengwe, facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Talent Golden Masuku, 40, on July 10, 2024.
The State alleges that Masuku had rekindled his relationship with his ex-wife, Shingirai Mativenga, 44, after a year-long separation. The former couple shared three children.
On July 9, 2024, Masuku and Mativenga reportedly met at Negari Business Centre in Mwenezi and spent the day together. They arranged to stay overnight at the homestead of a villager, Obey Matutu, who provided them with a room.
According to court testimony, at approximately 5 am the following morning, Moyo allegedly confronted Masuku and Mativenga at Matutu’s homestead.
Moyo is accused of attacking Mativenga, striking her on the head with a log and biting her below the chin.
When Masuku intervened to restrain Moyo, she allegedly turned on him, striking him on the head with a log before stabbing him in the back with a kitchen knife. Masuku collapsed and bled heavily, succumbing to his injuries.
Mativenga testified that after the stabbing, Moyo allegedly pulled out the knife but then seemingly realised the gravity of her actions. She reportedly knelt down, cradled Masuku’s head in her lap, and attempted to revive him, calling him by his name. Mativenga further claimed that Moyo then threatened to inflict the same violence upon her, daring her to approach.
Moyo, however, claims that the stabbing was accidental, occurring during a struggle with her husband.
The court heard that Moyo had one child with Masuku, although she maintained that she had three.
The incident was reported to the police, and Masuku’s body was taken to Mwenezi District Hospital. The case has been postponed to March 27, 2025. Mike Tembo is prosecuting the case, while Collen Maboke is representing the accused.
In a separate incident in Bulawayo, Dumezweni Khumalo, 47, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Archie Wochiwunga, charged with assault.
Khumalo pleaded guilty to assaulting Charles Nyoni, his ex-wife’s boyfriend. He was remanded in custody until March 21 for sentencing.
Khumalo told the court that on February 22, 2025, he had gone to his ex-wife’s residence to deliver money for their children. He claimed that Nyoni approached him and began verbally abusing him, which upset him.
Khumalo stated that Nyoni had a history of insulting him whenever he visited his children, and he had tolerated it for some time until the day of the assault.
The court heard that the argument between Khumalo and Nyoni escalated, leading to the assault. Khumalo attacked Nyoni with a machete, striking him once on the left palm and once on the right shoulder.
The matter was reported to the police, resulting in Khumalo’s arrest.
