A MUTARE man who stabbed his wife with a spear several times all over the body as the couple’s children watched helplessly has been jailed 23 years for the offence.
Taurai Mukono (50) of Gimboki ruthlessly stabbed his wife, Rita Kanoyangwa (39), last year.
Kanoyangwa sustained four stab wounds — one on the left side of the rib cage, another on the right hand elbow, on the right thigh and on the lower side of the abdomen. Mukono went on the run after committing the heinous act and was later arrested and brought to book for the offence.
Prior to Kanoyangwa’s death, the couple had a long standing dispute over infidelity accusations. Mr Malvern Musarurwa prosecuted, while Ms Eve Ngorima from Legal Aid Directorate represented Mukono.
Mukono argued that he never intended to kill Kanoyangwa and blamed his action on evil spirits. He claimed that Kanoyangwa had violated their month-long celibacy by sleeping with another man. Mukono said he loved his wife as they were married for 21 years, with the couple having been blessed with seven children.
He claimed to be a member of Nguwo Tsvuku Apostolic Sect, adding that he takes his religious beliefs seriously.
“My wife was not feeling well and we had to seek spiritual healing. A prophet told us that my wife had a family spirit that had to be converted to make her a prophetess. Our doctrine in Nguwo Tsvuku states that if one wants to become a member of the church, there is need to appeal to one’s ancestors.
“On April 13, I caught my wife being intimate with another man. During that time, we were preparing to do a certain church ritual to cement our marriage. We had been advised to remain pure for a month, meaning that we were not supposed to be int!mate.”
He said his wife violated the oath.
“For the ritual to be done, we were required to buy a spear, as well as a red and white cloth. We had raised the items needed and we were just waiting for the date of the ritual. For the required US$200, my late wife contributed US$70 and I contributed US$130.
“After my wife slept with another man, we had to abandon the rituals. We also had to discard the paraphernalia in a river as per our church’s custom to avoid any bad luck within the family.
“On April 17, 2022, I came back home from town and took the items from the wardrobe where we were keeping them with the intention of throwing them away. I took a satchel and placed the paraphernalia inside.
“I gave my wife a wallet with US$70 in it. She became very furious and asked why the money was short of US$130 and we started fighting.”
Mukono said his late wife was the first to attack him with a machete, adding that he defended himself with the spear. Mukono said:
“I used the spear to block the machete blows. She tried to hack me with the machete again, but I blocked her with the spear. The spear hit her on the stomach. We fought until she managed to free herself from my grip and escaped.
“In a fit of rage, I ran after her and further stabbed her. I cannot say where and how many times because everything happened in a jiffy and it was dark.”
In his submission to the court, Mr Musarurwa said:
“On April 17, 2022, in Gimboki South 2, Dangamvura, Mukono unlawfully caused the death of Rita Kanoyangwa by stabbing her with a spear once in the stomach, left side ribs, right hand elbow and several times on the right thigh with the intention of killing her.”
The court heard that Kanoyangwa sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
Doctor Tinotenda Albert Manyara conducted a post mortem on Kanoyangwa and concluded that the cause of the death was due to penetrating lung injury, penetrating cardiac injury and hemorrhagic shock.
