28 years jail for brutal murder of lover

berret rifle. They found three mine workers Mr A 32-YEAR-OLD artisanal miner from Shurugwi has been sentenced to 28 years in jail for the brutal murder of his live-in girlfriend.

Tapiwa Tavaziva Chinyama of Shurugwi struck Betserai Shava (37) twice on the head with an axe while her eight-year-old daughter watched in horror.

Chinyama yesterday appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa sitting at the Gweru High Court Circuit, facing one count of murder.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Mabhikwa found him guilty of murder with constructive intent after a full trial and sentenced him to 28 years in jail.

In her evidence, the deceased’s daughter, Mitchell Jairos, said she was still haunted by the murder.

“We were walking in a single file with my mother from our neighbour’s homestead when he (Chinyama) started asking why my mother was ignoring her. I turned to see what was happening and saw him striking her with an axe on the head twice. I fled and hid in some bushes and he was shouting that he wanted to kill me also,” she said.

It was the State case that on January 8 at around 8 PM, Shava in the company of her daughter visited their neighbour Ratidzai Murimi as she sought counselling concerning her relationship with Chinyama.

Shava and Chinyama were cohabiting.

Appearing before the same court was Sibikwani Ngwenya of Mberengwa who escaped with a suspended sentence for fatally striking her boyfriend with a hammer during a misunderstanding.