A 37-YEAR-OLD bigamist from Lupane allegedly committed suicide by hanging on Sunday after fatally assaulting his first wife who he suspected of having an extra-marital affair, police have said.

Hloniphani Ncube was customarily married to Nobuhle Moyo who is the deceased and another woman.

The trio stayed together in Gandanngula village under Chief Mabhikwa.

Ncube allegedly assaulted the now deceased with a knobkerrie on Thursday in a bush between Gandangula and Gwamba until she became unconscious.

Ncube allegedly borrowed a scotch cart from a villager which he used to carry her home where he allegedly detained her in their bedroom hut without taking her to hospital for medical treatment.

The women died on Saturday night and Ncube’s lifeless body was found hanging with a piece of wire and rope from a tree about 50 metres from his homestead on Sunday morning.

Some neighbors reportedly passed near Ncube’s homestead on Sunday morning and saw him hanging from a tree, but thought he was just standing under it as his feet were on the ground after the wire broke.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed that Ncube committed suicide by hanging after severely assaulting his wife with a knobkerrie.

“I can confirm that we received a report of a man who assaulted his wife with a knobkerrie before committing suicide,” he said without giving details.