A 31-YEAR-OLD man from Ascot suburb in Gweru was yesterday slapped with an effective 15-year jail term for attempting to kill his ex-wife after they separated.
by Stephen Chadenga
Felix Chimwanda of Mbuyisa Road in Ascot, Gweru, who is employed as a gardener, could not stomach separating with his ex-wife, Agnes Makuvise, a vendor, and hatched a plan to kill her in June this year.
Chimwanda stabbed Makuvise several times on the head, neck, hands and right side ribs before covering her body with grass and attempting to burn her.
Makuvise was rescued by police officers the following day and rushed to hospital.
Regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire convicted Chimwanda of attempted murder before sentencing him to 18 years in prison.
Three years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Andrew Marimo had told the court that on June 29 this year at around 6pm, the accused went to Kudzanayi bus terminus, where he met the complainant.
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He told her he was very concerned that she no longer loved him, but the latter told him he was the one who left her to single-handedly look after their two children, aged seven and five, respectively on her own.
Makuvise later told the accused she wanted to go home as it was getting dark, and he said he would accompany her to her place.
When the two reached St Michael’s Primary School, Chimwanda told his ex-partner that he was feeling cold and wanted to collect warm clothing from his home.
He asked Makuvise that they meet along Matobo Road so that they could discuss how he could see their two children who were staying with her mother at her rural home.
When Chimwanda arrived at the agreed meeting point, he asked Makuvise that they go to the other side of the road. After they had walked a short distance, he grabbed the complainant from behind and started stabbing her on the head, neck, hands, palms and right side ribs.
He pushed the complainant to the ground and continued stabbing her while suffocating her.
When Makuvise lay unconscious, the convict covered her body with grass and lit it before hurriedly walking away from the scene.
The fire was, however, put out by the wind.
In the early hours of the following day, police on patrol discovered the complainant and called for an ambulance, which rushed her to Gweru General Hospital.
When Makuvise regained consciousness, she identified her assailant, leading to his arrest.
