Buhle Mhlaulo
Lonyaka Mlambi a 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Runyararo Midzi.
The court heard that after assaulting his wife, Mlambi stabbed her once under the right side of her chest, tied her hands, and legs, and hanged her from the roof of their hut.
Investigating Officer Godfrey Madume testified about the harrowing scene at Mlambi’s homestead.
“We found the body at the roof beam of their matrimonial hut. The deceased was only wearing her pants. The body showed signs that it had been dragged and placed on the side of the bed before being hanged,” he reported.
During the proceedings, the judge reviewed various pieces of evidence, including a post-mortem report from Doctor M. G Acosta, the rope used to bind the deceased and a letter that Mlambi wrote after committing the crime.
Despite claiming he was confused and shocked by his actions, the court was taken aback that he could subsequently find a pen and paper to write a numbered letter from one to five, signing it afterward.
Mlambi locked the door from the outside, and the deceased body was discovered three days later.
He defended his actions by stating he was provoked after overhearing his wife discussing plans to leave him for her boyfriend. He claimed this revelation, along with the money sent by her aunt for her escape, fueled his anger.
While the prosecutor noted that Mlambi has covered the funeral expenses and provided six beasts to his wife’s family, Judge Justice Naison Chivayo emphasized the unacceptability of the violence.
He remarked, “every human has feelings and at some point, they are angered. The aggravation and violence are uncalled for. The couple has been together for less than 2-3 months and were never a good match; they should have seen that they were not meant for each other.”
Judge Chivayo further stated, “every driver knows that the vehicle carrying a deceased body must be treated with respect. It is inhuman to tie both hands and legs.” Ultimately, he confirmed the 25-year prison sentence for Mlambi, underscoring the seriousness of the crime.
