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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A BINGA man who allegedly beheaded his wife of 10 years could have killed her for ritual purposes following instructions from an inyanga, villagers have claimed.
Wonder Sabari Munsaka, believed to be in his 30s, visited a sangoma recently in Zambia and was instructed to bring his wife Fortunate Mutale’s head for ritual purposes, according to the villagers.

Mutale was buried on Saturday after her family demanded compensation and received five head of cattle,10 goats and $100 from Munsaka’s family.
Initially, the woman’s family demanded seven head of cattle, 10 goats and $100 before burial.

Munsaka’s cousin Richard Dube, a former councillor in Binga, said suspicions that his relative could have killed his wife for ritual purposes could be true.

He said Munsaka was a builder and fisherman and claimed that some of those he caught fish with believed in rituals.
“We’ve heard about the ritual talk but it’s not clear. We can’t, however, deny that because of the way he committed the murder in which he put the head in a cardboard box and hid it under a bed. It leaves everyone wondering if he was not into something,” said Dube.

“At the river he was staying with some Zambians who were also fishing there. They were very good friends such that the ritual issue could be true because those fishermen are known for witchcraft practice.”

He said Mutale was buried at her matrimonial homestead but her family was angry as the burial nearly turned violent.
He said police intervention saved the situation.

Villagers who spoke to Chronicle on condition of anonymity said Munsaka recently visited Zambia and for the past two weeks, he had been fighting with his customary wife over a yet to be established matter.

The couple, from Muyobe Village under Chief Siabuwa, had been married for about 10 years and had two minor children.
“We don’t think he killed her because of infidelity but he wanted to take her head to Zambia for rituals. How could he chop her and hide the head, he had a motive. We know he went to an inyanga in Zambia who told him to kill his wife and bring her head,” said a villager.

The gruesome murder took place at the couple’s homestead on Tuesday evening last week. Munsaka used an axe to chop his wife’s head.
After committing the crime, he allegedly took his two minor children to his parents’ home where he intended to leave them before he could proceed to Zambia.

However, when he returned he found neighbours gathered at his homestead as they had heard some screams. He then fled as villagers unsuccessfully tried to effect a citizen’s arrest.

The alleged killer was later arrested at Kapinda on the boundary with Gokwe and is being detained at Siabuwa Police Station awaiting his day in court.