Man jailed for life for stabbing ex-lover 13 times

The High Court sitting at Hwange has sentenced a 45-year-old Nkayi man to life imprisonment for murdering his former lover by stabbing her 13 times, and to five years imprisonment for stabbing a 72-year-old man on the same evening, with the sentences to run consecutively.

Sicelinkosi Masuku, 45, from Zinyangeni Village under Chief Nkalakatha in Nkayi, appeared before the High Court of Zimbabwe sitting at Hwange facing charges of murder and attempted murder.

The deceased, Princess Janet Ncube, was employed as a cook at Inkisela Lodges in Nkayi and resided at Mbondweni Village under Chief Tshugulu.

The complainant in the murder charge is the State, on behalf of the deceased, while the 72-year-old man is the complainant in the attempted murder charge.

The State alleged that Ncube had fled an abusive relationship with Masuku in South Africa on December 17, 2025 and sought refuge at her mother's homestead in Nkayi.

Masuku continued pursuing her, demanding that she return to him.

After she refused, he threatened to kill her and her family, authored a six-page handwritten note outlining his intentions, and travelled to Nkayi where he stalked her and her relatives.

On January 28, 2026 at approximately 2000 hours, Masuku confronted the victim as she left Inkisela Lodges with her new boyfriend.

After threatening the boyfriend and forcing him to flee, he dragged Ncube towards the ZESA Nkayi offices, where he stabbed her 13 times. She died at the scene.

About 30 minutes later, the offender attacked a 72-year-old man near Junction Down Stores, stabbing him once in the back with the same knife.

The victim survived and received treatment at Nkayi District Hospital.

Police investigations led to Masuku's arrest.

A blood-stained Okapi knife used in the attacks and the handwritten note were recovered and produced as exhibits in court.

In sentencing, the court found the murder to have been premeditated, noting the threats, the handwritten note, the stalking and the brutality of the 13 stab wounds, warranting life imprisonment, with the five-year sentence for attempted murder to run consecutively.