The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
A Gutu woman allegedly committed suicide by hanging at her alleged married lover’s homestead following a misunderstanding over a cellphone message.
Rebecca Bernard’s body was found hanging from a tree at Chivasa Primary School headmaster Mr Tellmore Chimombe’s homestead on Monday morning. Sources told Sunday News that by Thursday her body had not yet been buried as there was a heated dispute between Chimombe’s family and Bernard’s.
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not yet received the report of sudden death from Gutu but promised to make a follow-up.
“We have not yet received such a report from Gutu. However, we will make a follow up to find out in Gutu if the incident occurred, you can phone later,” said Insp Mazula.
However, villagers said Bernard of Mutamba Village under Chief Chimombe (age not given) plunged the whole village into mourning when she decided to take her life after an altercation with her alleged boyfriend. It is alleged that on Sunday last week at around 4pm while relaxing at Mushayi Business Centre in the same area the two lovebirds, whose affair had become the talk of the village, had an argument over a cellphone message
“The two were having a conversation while relaxing at the business centre. It was during their conversation that a dispute over a cellphone message ensued and that degenerated into a fight. Bernard is said to have picked a metal object and struck Mr Chimombe on the head leaving him with a deep and bleeding cut. There was blood all over his face but he did not retaliate,” said a villager.
The villager said Mr Chimombe was attended by some patrons at the business centre who administered some first aid to stop him from bleeding then took him to his homestead.
“Benard left in a huff and went to her homestead in the same village. However, on Monday morning one of Chimombe’s children stumbled on Bernard’s body hanging from a tree just outside their homestead,” he said. A report was made to the police who attended the scene and untied the body before taking it to Gutu Mission Hospital mortuary for postmorterm.
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