A 36-year-old man from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo has allegedly murdered his estranged wife and sexually abused her corpse in full view of their children before he later committed suicide.
After the gruesome murder, the man identified as Judge Evans Zinzombe fled from the scene leaving the children, aged 12 and seven years with the body locked inside the room.
The incident occurred last Wednesday night. The two were reportedly having marital disputes which forced them to sleep in separate rooms.
Zinzombe, who was being sought by police in connection with the murder of his estranged wife, Phelomina Mabika (32), was found dead the following day, in what is suspected to be a suicide case.
His body was found hanging from a metal roof truss at a local church in Cowdray Park.
Acting police spokesperson for Bulawayo province, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said Mabika was sleeping in her bedroom with her two children when Zinzombe sneaked in and strangled her.
The children woke up after they heard their mother screaming and tried to confront their father who warned them against intervening as they risked being killed.
Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele recounted:
“Zinzombe went on to rape the body in front of their children after which he locked the children inside the bedroom together with the body and fled from the scene.”
She said the children spent the whole night in the bedroom with their mother’s body. They only managed to open the door the following day and informed the neighbours who immediately informed the police.
“When our officers attended the scene, they observed that Mabika had froth on her mouth and blood in the noise. The body was taken to the hospital for post-mortem,” she said.
