28-year-old man chokes his lover to death
A 28-year-old man of Tobane village choked his 26-year-old girlfriend to death on Monday in Block 2, Francistown.
Francistown Kutlwano Police Station Commander, Neo Serumola told The Midweek Sun that they received a report at 11:00 am on Monday from the suspect’s friend.
The friend said he received a phone call from the accused, saying that his girlfriend might have lost her life after they fought.
According to Serumola, the police found the deceased lying helplessly on the floor at her rented house, and was rushed to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital for medical help where she would be certified dead. “The police officers found the suspect at the crime scene and he was arrested. It is suspected that he might have used his hands to suffocate the deceased,” said Serumola. According to Serumola, the couple stayed in the same neighbourhood and on the day of the fatal incident, the suspect had visited the deceased. It is also alleged that the previous night the couple had a misunderstanding, which might have led to the fight. Customary Court Kgosi, Sam Masunga of Phase 4 Francistown noted that murder cases especially between lovers are worrisome in his area. Masunga observed that some partners never want to accept when the other no longer wants the relationship, instead they end up taking their partner’s life. He noted that since the beginning of the year, they have assisted at least 10 couples that had misunderstandings and needed intervention from the customary court. “The feedback we get from these couples is that some managed to peacefully resolve their matters and that, others went their separate ways without taking the law into their own hands,” Masunga said. Meanwhile, Founder of Women in Solidarity Organisation in Francistown, Kemelo Mozila strongly condemned crimes of passion taking place in the area and anywhere else in the country, reiterating that human life was too precious to be ended over romance. Mozila advised that to avoid abuse at the hands of their male counterparts, women must be empowered. They also need to be educated on traits that characterise a healthy relationship. “When women are holistically empowered and more knowledgeable they will be better prepared to exit abusive relationships,” Mozila said.
Mozila says it is never too late for victims of Gender Based Violence to seek help. The solutions that await them are greater than their fears. Opening up about abuse is the first step towards healing and identifying viable solutions to greater liberty.