By Own Correspondent| A Rusape man who fatally struck his wife with a hoe for denying him conjugal rights before evading arrest by hiding in a cave for 3 years has been jailed 25 years.

Lameck Manyanga (28) of Inyati Mine in Madindi Village killed his wife Tendai Mufaranyuri and burnt her body was found guilty of murder when he appeared before Mutare High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera.

He told the court that he had no intention of killing her, but the incident happened during a heated argument.

Mr Jonathan Chingwinyiso, representing the State, had it that on December 9, 2014 at Inyati Mine, Manyanga had a domestic dispute with his wife. The two exchanged harsh words which ended with Tendai calling her husband a stupid man who survived on “piece jobs”.

She also said his mother was a witch.

Manyanga left for work and upon his return, his wife is said to have denied him conjugal rights.

In anger, he armed himself with a hoe which he used to attack his wife.

After killing his wife, Manyanga wrote a suicide note before torching the hut where his wife’s lifeless body was lying. He then went to hide in a cave where he stayed for three years until another villager, Tafadzwa Mhlanga, spotted him sometime in October 2017.

Manyanga is said to have emerged from the cave wielding an iron bar, threatening to attack anyone who  would dare approach him.

He was later arrested and taken to court