Man sets neighbour’s wife alight

Community News
A Sanyati man killed his girlfriend, the wife of another villager, before committing suicide, in a bizarre murder case that left the community shell-shocked last week.

A Sanyati man killed his girlfriend, the wife of another villager, before committing suicide, in a bizarre murder case that left the community shell-shocked last week.

BY NUNURAI JENA

Police confirmed that Gesham Mapete (35) of Lutuli village under Chief Neuso in Sanyati, was having an extra-marital affair with Mary Dhlamini for some time.

It is alleged that when Mapete realised that Dhlamini was now seeing another man, he became jealous.

On the fateful day, he went to Dhlamini’s homestead, armed with five litres of petrol. Upon arriving at the homestead, he saw Dhlamini’s husband, Jotamu Choga, and asked him the whereabouts of his wife. Choga, who did not know Mapete’s intentions, told him his wife was cooking in the house.

Mapete proceeded into the house and poured the entire inflammable liquid on Dhlamini’s body.

Sensing danger, the woman fled out of the house with Mapete in pursuit.

The assailant then set the woman on fire.

Mapete then left for his home but the burning woman followed, begging for help and forgiveness before collapsing and dying. Her husband reported the case to Sanyati police, who arrested Mapete the following day. But that was not the end of the tragedy. the following day, Mapete was found dead in the cells after using his shirt to hang himself.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara, said people should not take the law into their hands.

“We have liaison officers at every police station, so people should take advantage of them and get advice. loss of life is very painful. “There are children left behind and they need someone to look after them. that is pathetic,” said Mabgweazara.