Nyanga – A chilling tale of love, betrayal, and fatal jealousy has unfolded in Nyanga, as a 47-year-old married nurse, Joseph Upenyu Mandiyamba, brutally murdered his alleged cheating girlfriend, Privilege Garufu (34), before ending his own life. The horrific crime was allegedly triggered by Mandiyamba’s discovery that Garufu had been unfaithful and had even moved her new lover, posing as her uncle, into the house he had built for her.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the tragic events, stating that Mandiyamba, a nurse at Nyanga District Hospital, was found hanging from a tree in a neighbour’s garden. “His lover, Garufu’s body was discovered in her main bedroom, the adze (mbezo) still lodged in her right eye, while Mandiyamba was found hanging with a wire from a Muzhanje tree in a neighbour’s garden. His clothes were covered in blood,” he said.
According to Commissioner Nyathi, Mandiyamba’s body was discovered by neighbours, while Garufu’s son found her body in the bedroom, covered with a blanket.
The Manica Post news crew visited the Mandiyamba’s homestead in Mutemararo Village under Chief Saunyama, where he had just been laid to rest, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. Mourners were gathered, and tensions were palpable as relatives struggled to come to terms with Mandiyamba’s actions.
Relatives revealed that the catalyst for the tragedy was Mandiyamba’s realisation that Garufu no longer loved him, despite his generosity towards her. He had built her a five-roomed house and a kitchen hut, while his wife and three children continued to live in a dilapidated two-roomed house. Mandiyamba had also opened a small shop for Garufu.
Mandiyamba’s aunt, Mrs Barbara Mandiyamba-Saunyama, said her nephew had abandoned his family and built Garufu a luxurious five-roomed mansion with a state-of-the-art kitchen with an aluminium roof, while his wife and children languished in poverty. “He neglected his wife and daughters despite her efforts to support his nursing education. I attempted to intervene, but he claimed Garufu would bear him a son as his wife had failed to do so. Ironically, Garufu did not even give him a daughter, and now they are both dead.”
Mrs Mandiyamba-Saunyama added that Garufu was now living with an unidentified soldier at the house that Mandiyamba had built for her. “She had introduced him as her uncle. Mandiyamba even bought him beer, unaware that he was Garufu’s lover. He even allowed him to stay at the home,” she said.
The revelation of Garufu’s infidelity allegedly came to Mandiyamba on the fateful night when one of Garufu’s friends informed him about the true nature of her relationship with the soldier. “On the evening in question, one of Garufu’s friends informed Mandiyamba that the soldier was, in fact, her lover. This revelation came after Mandiyamba had unwittingly bought the soldier beer. Mandiyamba and Garufu were later embroiled in a heated argument at the bar over the issue. Upon returning home with the soldier, who continued to pose as Garufu’s uncle, Mandiyamba tragically murdered Garufu, before taking his own life,” said Mrs Mandiyamba-Saunyama.
Adding to the tragedy, it was revealed that Mandiyamba had taken money from his wife, which she had saved for one of their children’s school fees, to spend on Garufu. “He travelled to Mutare with Garufu to collect his salary. They had a substantial amount of money. They spent it all on Saturday, and when we collected his belongings after his death, only a dollar was left in his wallet. I believe that realisation pushed him over the edge. He had spent so much on someone who did not care about him, while his own family struggled,” she said.
Mandiyamba’s nephew, Mr Shingirayi Nyakapanga, recounted their visit to Garufu’s home to “collect” his uncle’s spirit, which was said to have been lingering in the neighbour’s garden. “Garufu’s friends were hostile towards us, but we had police escort. Upon arrival, we were shown the lavish house he had built for her. It was the most outstanding at the homestead, having an en-suite and matching green aluminium roofing on the hut and main house. We were all shocked. My uncle was a quiet, reserved man who had even given up drinking; so this tragic incident is still baffling to us. Initially, we suspected foul play, but the post-mortem confirmed that he took his own life,” he said.
The funeral of Garufu in Sabvukutwa Village under Chief Hata was marred by chaos as a group of sex workers from Nyanga town, who were friends of the deceased, staged a provocative display, shocking elderly mourners. They blew up condoms, danced suggestively, and even undressed. The group interrupted speeches, carried the coffin, and rushed with it to the grave before it was fully prepared.
“They took over the digging, while others danced. We were shocked when some stripped naked, forcing us to cover them with our cloths. One woman removed her underwear and threw it into the grave. Moments later, she asked them to stop filling the grave so that she could retrieve it. The scene was utterly disgraceful. It is sad that such incidents occur at funerals,” said a neighbour, Mrs Eulita Chifamata.
Mrs Chifamata revealed that she had previously counselled the couple after Mandiyamba had threatened to take his own life at Garufu’s homestead, claiming that she had infected him with HIV. “Their relationship was always tumultuous, as Garufu claimed she no longer loved him. However, Mandiyamba refused to move on, arguing that he would rather die than leave her. Sadly, that is exactly what transpired. Last week, he confided in me that he felt trapped because she had allegedly infected him with HIV. However, she denied it; insisting she was HIV-negative. They were scheduled to undergo testing together this week,” she added.
One of Garufu’s former classmates, Mr John Jatiwero, who was present at Nyamhuka Beer Garden on the night the couple appeared to be enjoying themselves, described her as a violent person. “Garufu was known for being aggressive towards Mandiyamba. We are still puzzled as to how he managed to overpower her without a struggle. The posture of her body after the incident suggested she did not even defend herself. We were left wondering if she was intoxicated or if something else was at play. Her energetic dancing and jumping at the bar that Saturday night just before their argument seems almost ominous in hindsight,” he said.
Garufu’s uncle, who refused to be named, declined to speak to the media, opting instead to cover the story on his own YouTube channel. “I have my own platform, and I will report on the funeral myself. I do not consent to further interviews as we do not benefit from speaking to you. The interviews you have already conducted with the neighbours are sufficient. I will take it from here,” he said. However, he vehemently denied allegations that Garufu’s friends had behaved inappropriately at the funeral, specifically dismissing claims that one of them had thrown her underwear into the grave.
Village head Sabvukutwa also refused to comment, arguing that he had handed over all relevant details to the police.
