Chama woman hacked by husband over infidelity row
By George Zulu
A 20-YEAR-OLD woman of Chibalila Village in Chama District is battling for her life in hospital after being hacked with a machete by her husband during a violent marital dispute.
Eastern Province Commissioner of Police Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident, which happened around 04:00 hours on Saturday and was reported to Chama Police Station the same day.
He identified the victim as Timanye Mutambo, while the suspect is her husband, Medson Kumwenda, 24, of the same village, who is currently on the run.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the couple, married for two years, quarreled after reports emerged that Kumwenda had impregnated another woman, identified as Kota Namfukwe of Chitanda Village. The confrontation escalated into violence, during which Kumwenda allegedly picked up a machete and viciously attacked his wife.
“Injuries sustained by the victim include a deep cut to the back of the head, a deep cut to the neck, an amputated middle finger on the right hand, deep cuts on the left shoulder, and multiple bruises on both hands,” Mweemba said.
He said a manhunt has been launched for the suspect while a docket has been opened, and a medical report issued.
Meanwhile, police in Eastern Province have recorded two separate fatal road traffic accidents in Nyimba and Chadiza districts, which claimed two lives over the weekend.
The first occurred around 18:20 hours on Saturday along the Great East Road at Mawanda area, about eight kilometers east of Nyimba town.
“Involved was a Toyota Vanguard registration number AIG 891ZM, driven by Baton Samu, 35, of Riverside Compound in Nyimba, who struck a pedestrian, David Lungu, 47, of Mawanda area in Chief Ndake’s jurisdiction. The victim sustained fatal head injuries and multiple fractures and died on the spot,” Mweemba said.
Lungu’s body has been deposited in Nyimba District Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem. The driver, who escaped unhurt, has been detained, while the vehicle has been impounded for Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) inspection.
The second accident happened around 23:00 hours on the Chadiza–Chiswa gravel road involving a Gatoma motorcycle registration number ARC 3318, which was extensively damaged.
“The unidentified rider sustained serious head injuries and died while being rushed to Chadiza District Hospital. His body has been deposited in the mortuary awaiting identification and post-mortem,” Mweemba said.
