The Sunday News
Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
A 27-year-old Chiredzi man who is suspected to be mentally challenged killed his disabled sister after she had refused to serve him a third plate of sadza.
Jonathan Chiyitani of Chiyitani Village, Chief Sengwe in Chiredzi District fatally assaulted his sister, Esnath Chiyitani (35) using a mopane log.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident that occurred last Sunday.
“On 2 January around 1.30am, Jonathan came back home from the New Year celebrations and woke up his sister who shares the same bedroom with their mother. He was given his plate of sadza, which he ate and finished and demanded another one.
He was given the second plate, but he said he was still hungry.
“This did not go down well with Esnath who refused to give him the third plate. An argument arose and their mother Mary Machekani woke up and escorted her son to his bedroom, trying to calm him down.”
He said Jonathan agreed to go to sleep and as Machekani was returning to the hut where she had left Esnath, Jonathan went to Esnath and continued with his demands for a third plate.
Insp Dhewa said Esnath refused to honour the request and Jonathan armed himself with a mopane log while threatening her.
Machekani advised Esnath who is living with a disability to crawl and hide while she went to seek help from their neighbours.
“When Machekani came back from alerting their cousin Jefta Chiyitani (50), she found Jonathan assaulting Esnath with the log and when he saw her, he went to his bedroom. Jefta arrived at the scene with some neighbours and found that Esnath had already died. They apprehended Jonathan and handed him over to the police.”
Insp Dhewa urged those who have relatives that are mentally challenged to seek assistance from specialists and to ensure they take their medication.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a 28-year-old Sikulekile Ngohloane of Mhapa Village, Chief Shindi, Chivi, was murdered by her 40-year-old husband Simbarashe Chenjerai after she was found in a compromising position with his brother.
“On 31 December 2021 around 10pm, Chenjerai, together with his brother Wilson Chenjerai (21) went out for New Year celebrations at their brother-in-law Ekem Shonhai’s home. At around 3am, Wilson sneaked out leaving his brother in the company of Shonhai and went to his home which is about two and half kilometres from where they were drinking beer.
“Simbarashe later on discovered that Wilson was no longer with them and he became suspicious. He then went back home and found his wife in bed with Wilson in their bedroom. Simbarashe was furious and started assaulting his wife with a wooden axe handle and a three-legged aluminium pot and she died after sustaining a deep cut on the back of the head, another cut between the left-hand thumb and a finger, split bottom lip and she was bleeding from the mouth.
“At around 3pm a report was made to the police after Simbarashe had told his neighbour that he had killed his wife. Ngundu police attended the scene and arrested Simbarashe.”
Insp Dhewa said people should engage mediators such as the village elders to help solve family disputes.
