A 30-year-old man from Koso village in Nyanga committed suicide by drinking cotton pesticide following a dispute with his wife over a donated cow on Saturday last week.
James Mazinda reportedly assaulted his wife Mavhu Nyamaiwa before drinking the poisonous pesticide following a misunderstanding over ownership of the cow donated by a non-governmental organisation.
According to the police, the cow was donated in the name of Nyamaiwa, but Mazinda was claiming that as head of the family, the beast should be his.
Acting Manicaland Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Enock Chishiri said the misunderstanding led to a bitter exchange of words before degenerating into a fist fight.
Mazinda is alleged to have picked up an unknown sharp object which he used to strike his wife on the head with. He then picked up a log with which he bashed his wife.
As a result, Nyamaiwa lost two of her front teeth. However, police said Nyamaiwa managed to escape, leaving Mazinda alone in their bedroom.
After realising he had seriously injured his wife, Mazinda drank the pesticide possibly to avoid arrest. Mazinda’s mother is alleged to have heard her son groaning in the bedroom and went to investigate. She discovered that Mazinda had consumed the poisonous substance.
Efforts to apply first aid proved fruitless as Mazinda died before reaching the hospital.
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“We would like to urge the public not to abuse the family set up.
“People should find amicable ways of solving disputes and they should respect one another because both the husband and wife in a family set up are equal,” said Chishiri.
