GWERU – A Gweru woman will serve 10 years in prison for stabbing her husband’s girlfriend to death after finding her on the couple’s matrimonial bed with her spouse February this year.
Stacey Mkandla, 34, was tipped by neighbours while at an all-night church service and rushed home around 4AM on the night to find her husband, Tafadzwa Emmanuel Munyoro, in bed with his now deceased lover Brightness Phiri.
In his comments after the crime had been committed, Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said Mkandla had left her home the previous day for an all-night-prayer in Senga suburb leaving Munyoro at home.
“She returned earlier than expected in the morning. She stormed into their bedroom and found her husband and the now deceased sleeping,” Mahoko was quoted as saying at the time.
“The now deceased collapsed and died while fleeing naked.”
Mkandla handed herself to police at Nehanda Police Station.
Gweru High Court Circuit judge, Justice Naison Chivayo on Tuesday finally sentenced Mkandla to 10 years imprisonment.
Public Prosecutor Clemence Chimbari told the court during trial that Mkandla used a dangerous weapon to attack Phiri, stabbing her multiple times and targeting delicate areas such as the eye and chest, with the intention to kill.
Mkandla’s lawyer, Esau Mandipa pleaded for mercy, citing “extreme provocation” on his client by Phiri, adding that Mkandla committed the crime after the now deceased tried to retaliate before she disarmed her.
Phiri’s sister, Gracious Mkwananzi, in her impact statement, said the family was in pain for the loss of a member, adding that they have not received any meaningful compensation from Munyoro.
“I am deeply hurt and crushed in spirit about the incident,” she said.
“Our family charged the boyfriend, Munyoro, 10 cattle and money as compensation, but he only paid US$1,000 for the funeral and never returned.”
