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Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A TEACHER who allegedly strangled his pregnant girlfriend with her head scarf and set her body ablaze at a lodge in Bulawayo’s Kumalo suburb on Monday, appeared in court yesterday.

Tonderai Marabwa from Pakame High School in Shurugwi allegedly strangled Fortunate Sindi Sithole after the two had a misunderstanding when she demanded to be introduced to his family.

Bulawayo magistrate, Ms Sharon Rosemani, did not ask Marabwa to plead to murder and remanded him in custody to Monday.

Prosecuting, Mr Mclean Ndlovu alleged that on Sunday Marabwa contacted Sithole and the two agreed to meet in Bulawayo in the afternoon.

Mr Ndlovu said Marabwa travelled to Bulawayo from Lalapanzi and met the Sithole who was coming from Mahatshula around 5PM.

“They resolved to put up at a local lodge in Khumalo where they had sex. Around 4AM the two had a misunderstanding over the issue of the now deceased’s pregnancy with Sithole demanding to be taken to Marabwa’s family for introductions,” he said.

“Marabwa refused since he had another girlfriend who is also pregnant.

“He said he wanted to marry [the other girlfriend] and had left her at his place of residence. While at the lodge Sithole insisted that she was going to follow the accused to his place of residence and force him to introduce her to his family.”

Mr Ndlovu said Marabwa feared that his other girlfriend would discover his affair and he allegedly strangled Sithole with her head scarf. The court heard that he put a mattress on top of her body, set it ablaze, locked the door from outside to conceal the offence and disappeared. — @MondelaC