Woman murders rival suitor, sets house ablaze

A MBERENGWA woman could not stomach the idea of another woman in bed with her husband and went berserk, fatally stabbing the husband’s girlfriend before torching her house in a fit of rage.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident which happened on Sunday last week at about 8pm when Patience Shumba (48) of Beauty Mine Compound in Mberengwa fatally stabbed Lydia Nyoni (32) before setting her hut ablaze after she caught her with her husband.

Insp Goko said on the fateful day Shumba’s husband Kumirai Kumirai visited her girlfriend in Vimbanai Village under Chief Bvute, a few kilometres from the mine compound where the two lovebirds were having quality time in the woman’s hut.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a murder case where a woman killed another female adult whom she suspected of having an affair with her husband. The incident occurred at around 8pm when Patience Shumba went to Lydia Nyoni’s home armed with a knife after suspecting that she was having an affair with her husband. Shumba asked Nyoni if her husband was inside the house but Nyoni professed ignorance of Kumirai’s whereabouts. However, a heated argument ensued between the two and this gave Kumirai, who was in the house, an opportunity to escape leaving the two,” he said.

Insp Goko said during the argument, Shumba stabbed Nyoni twice on the chest and neck. Nyoni managed to escape and rushed into her bedroom. He said Shumba then set the hut on fire before disappearing into the dark leaving Nyoni for dead.

Insp Goko said a neighbour noticed the fire at Nyoni’s house and rushed to help put it out but found Nyoni groaning in pain and bleeding profusely while lying on the ground.

“The neighbour reported the matter to the police and took Nyoni to Mberengwa District Hospital where she was further transferred to Bulawayo. Nyoni later died on her way to Bulawayo,” he said.

Insp Goko said Shumba is still on the run.