There was a bloodbath when a soldier stabbed his estranged wife seven times and ripped her stomach open after she refused to reconcile with him.

iHarare has learned from state media that Gugulethu Ndlovu (29) who is stationed at the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange had separated with his wife Nompilo Moyo following a matrimonial dispute. Moyo is reported to have abandoned the couple’s home in Nkulumane suburb after she was accused of infidelity. Following numerous altercations over the issue, she moved back to her parents’ home at Kumbudzi Village under Chief Mathe area in Gwanda District.

Ndlovu seems to have had a change of heart and followed Moyo intending to reconcile with her so that she would come back home.

Unfortunately, Ndlovu’s plans and the planned discussion did not go as expected. Moyo is reported to have refused to welcome her estranged husband and did not respond positively to his entreaties.

The situation quickly unravelled and Ndlovu went beserk and pushed his wife to the ground before indiscriminately stabbing her 7 times and ripping her stomach open in a brutal frenzy. Moyo died on the spot.

After committing the brutal crime, Ndlovu initially fled the scene before going on to hand himself over to the military police at the ZNA School of Infantry barracks in Mbalabala. The military police then handed over Ndlovu to the police where he was arrested and charged with murder.

Ndlovu has since applied for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court arguing that he is the perfect candidate for bail because he is not a flight risk. Part of his bail application which was filed by his lawyer reads,

“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.

“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.”

The state has opposed the application for bail contending that Ndlovu is likely to abscond due to the severity of the charges against him. Part of the state’s response reads,

“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 a death sentence is a likelihood,”

At the time of publishing, the High Court was yet to rule on the soldier’s application for bail.

Source:iHarare