A woman from Rusape has been arrested after she stabbed her aunt to death over an electricity usage dispute.
Nella Kundai, 27, fatally stabbed her aunt, Dorothy Matongo, 41 three times in the chest with a knife.
According to New Zimbabwe, the fatal altercation began when Kundai and Matongo, who shared a home, disagreed over how to manage their electricity bill.
Kundai, citing financial difficulties, refused to contribute to the payment. Sympathizing with her niece, Matongo paid US$5 to restore their electricity but instructed that it be used only for lighting, not cooking.
Ignoring her aunt’s instructions, Kundai used the electricity for cooking, leading to a furious argument. The confrontation quickly escalated into violence, culminating in Kundai stabbing Matongo three times in the chest.
Matongo’s family claims that the tragedy could have been avoided if the police had taken earlier reports of escalating tensions seriously.
“Despite the family’s attempts to seek help from the authorities, our pleas were not heard,” said Prime, Matongo’s daughter.
“I went to the police station and told them about the growing tension between my mother and Kundai, but the police did not take action. Shockingly, they told me that I should only report the incident after my mother had been stabbed.”
Prime herself sustained injuries during the altercation, being struck in the stomach by a toilet seat as she tried to intervene.
Community elder Eunice Muhwihwa expressed deep sadness over Matongo’s death and called for more proactive policing.
“The tragic death serves as a reminder of the importance of timely intervention and conflict resolution in preventing such senseless acts of violence,” Muhwihwa stated.
Matongo’s churchmate, identified only as Mai Muchena, also criticized the justice system for failing to prevent the tragedy.
“If the police had responded to the family’s warnings, Dorothy might still be alive today,” Muchena lamented.
Kundai is now in police custody, facing murder charges, and is expected to appear in court soon. Matongo’s death has left a significant void in her family, which includes three daughters and one son.
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