Man Kills Ex-Wife With Hammer in Custody Dispute

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

A 31-year-old man from New Mabvuku has been dragged to court after allegedly murdering his ex-wife in a brutal hammer attack following a dispute over child custody.

Prince Ndambi appeared before magistrate Rufaro Pavanhu at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing a charge of murder. He is expected to return to court on April 30.

According to the State, the incident occurred on April 3 when Ndambi visited his ex-wife, Constance Tsitsi Chirwa, at her workplace in Gletwin, Harare, where she was employed as a housemaid. Chirwa was reportedly alone at the time.

A heated argument allegedly broke out between the two over custody of their children. The altercation turned violent when Ndambi is said to have struck Chirwa multiple times on the back of the head with a hammer, causing her to collapse.

Ndambi then allegedly dragged her body and dumped it under a bridge along Poland Road, approximately 200 metres off Mutoko Road. In a bid to conceal the crime, he reportedly placed a 15kg stone on her feet to prevent the body from being washed away by water before fleeing the scene.

The following day, a passerby discovered the body and alerted authorities. A report was made to ZRP Highlands, and the body was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for a post-mortem.

A post-mortem conducted on April 7 confirmed the cause of death as a skull fracture and severe head trauma.

Police investigations eventually led detectives from CID Bindura to the suspect after receiving information linking him to the murder.

Ndambi remains in custody as investigations continue