MIDWEEK REPORTER
GUTU-WHILE they say hell hath no fury like a scorned woman, in this case it was a man whose wife has been proposed to by a close friend and neighbor who did the unthinkable.
Joseph Dimiti (38) of Machakata Village in Soti Sosi area in Gutu allegedly brutally murdered his neighbor and friend Richard Takawira (35) for proposing to his wife when he had gone for a piece job.
On the fateful day the two had been drinking beer together at Richard’s homestead which is about 100m from Joseph’s house at around 10am on February 17.
As they were drinking beer a woman came and asked for assistance to plough her field and Joseph left Richard and his wife Filomina Muchuchu (23) as he went to do the piece job.
Joseph came back at around 3:30pm and found his wife sobbing on the verandah and she told him that Richard had proposed love to her and also he had told her that her husband was going out with a certain woman in the same area.
This infuriated Joseph who went and took Richard from his homestead for questioning.
While in Joseph’s kitchen Richard vehemently denied the allegations but he was attacked by his friend and when he tried to run away he fell down.
Joseph picked a hoe handle and hit the deceased on the buttocks and when he tried to run away he fell again and the accused picked another hoe handle and started clobbering the deceased all over the body.
After being satisfied with the punishment he had meted on his friend, Joseph ordered Richard to go to his home.
Richard went back to his home but his condition continued to deteriorate and was taken to Gutu Mission Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The matter was reported to police while the body which was swollen all over with some bruises as well was taken to the mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
Masvingo Province police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the gruesome murder and urged parties to resolve differences amicably and through mediation by engaging elders, the church or the police
