A BULAWAYO soldier followed his estranged wife to her
family home where he allegedly stabbed her seven times using a kitchen knife
and ripped her stomach open after she refused to return to their matrimonial
home.
Gugulethu Ndlovu (29) of Nkulumane suburb and stationed at
the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange, had a
long-standing domestic feud with his wife Nompilo Moyo whom he accused of
infidelity resulting in the woman abandoning their matrimonial home.
She moved back to her parents’ home at Kumbudzi Village
under Chief Mathe area in Gwanda District.
Ndlovu followed the deceased to her home intending to
negotiate with her so that she could return to their matrimonial home. However,
when Moyo declined to move back to her matrimonial home in Bulawayo, an
altercation ensued resulting in Ndlovu indiscriminately stabbing her seven
times and she died on the spot.
Soon after committing the offence, Ndlovu went to the ZNA
barracks in Mbalabala where he handed himself over to the military police
leading to his arrest.
This emerged when Ndlovu, through his lawyers Malinga and
Mpofu Legal Practitioners, filed an application for bail pending trial at the
Bulawayo High Court, citing the State as a respondent.
In his bail statement, Ndlovu said there was no legal basis
warranting his continued detention, arguing that the State case was weak.
He also dismissed the State’s assertion that if released on
bail he was likely to abscond given the gravity of the alleged offence.
“The applicant has a strong defence to the allegations
levelled against him. He is not a flight risk and there is no tangible evidence
for the contention that he will escape or interfere with State witnesses if
released on bail,” said Ndlovu’s lawyers.
“Applicant is a serving member of the Zimbabwe National
Army, which on its own is a disciplined organisation with a capacity to monitor
his movement such that it will not be easy for him to escape if released on
bail.”
Ndlovu offered to pay $10 000 bail and report twice a week
at Nkulumane Police Station. He also offered to continue residing at his given
address as well as not interfering with State witnesses as part of the bail
conditions.
The State, which was represented by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza
opposed the application, arguing that there was not guarantee that if released
on bail Ndlovu would not abscond.
“In casu, it should be noted that the applicant faces a
serious offence. It is clear that the seriousness of the charge is a factor
that the court should pay regard to, for it is clear that once an accused
person is faced with a lengthy imprisonment, the possibility of abscondment is
very high,” he said.
Mr Jaravaza said the fact that Ndlovu fled the scene after
committing the offence, was in itself a pointer that he has inclination to
abscond.
“It should be noted that the murder itself was committed in
a callous manner. The applicant stabbed the deceased seven times and fled from
the scene. The State case is strong such that a lengthy custodial sentence is
likely, even death sentence is a likelihood,” he said.
According to State papers it was stated that on June 24 this
year, Ndlovu travelled from Hwange to Kumbudzi Village following his wife who
had abandoned their matrimonial home and moved back to her family home. Moyo’s
departure from her matrimonial home followed a spate of misunderstandings with
Ndlovu who accused her of infidelity.
The purpose of Ndlovu’s visit to Kumbudzi Village was to
negotiate with his wife and in-laws so that Moyo could return to their
matrimonial home.
However, it was stated that upon arrival at his in-laws’
home, the deceased refused to welcome him leading to an altercation and Moyo
attacked the deceased. He allegedly pushed her to the ground after overpowering
her before he stabbed her seven times in the process ripping open the stomach.
After committing the offence, Ndlovu fled from the scene
and went to ZNA School of Infantry barracks in Mbalabala where he handed
himself over to the military police. He was taken to the police leading to his
arrest. Chronicle
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