A SILOBELA man fatally struck his sleeping wife with an axe on the head before committing suicide after discovering she was taking contraceptive pills without his knowledge.

Busani Mandava (35) of Langton Farm in Silobela, allegedly struck his wife, Chipo Basopo once in the head while she was asleep and she died on the spot. He then covered her with a blanket, took their three- year-old child to their neighbour before he proceeded to hang himself from a
tree using barbed wire.

Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko could not confirm the incident saying he was yet to get a report on the murder and
suicide case. However, Silobela MP Mthokozisi Manoki-Mpofu confirmed the incident that happened on Friday night.

“Yes I received information that there is a man who killed his wife before taking his own life,” said the MP who referred further questions to the area’s councillor. Ward 24 councillor Mr Ephias Shoko said Mandava left a note explaining why hecommitted suicide after killing his wife.

Cllr Shoko said on the fateful day, the couple spent the day working in their fields as usual.
“They spent the whole day ploughing in their field. They retired around 3PM before they went fishing in the nearby dam. Everything seemed fine for the young couple,” he said.

Cllr Shoko said he was shocked when people came knocking on his door at night informing him that Mandava was hanging from a tree.
“It is believed that the couple had a
misunderstanding over family planning issues. According to a note that he left which is in the hands of the police, he got angry when he discovered that his wife was taking
family planning pills without his knowledge,” he said.Chronicle