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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior 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 has been further remanded.

Tonderai Marabwa (33), a teacher at Pakame High School in Lalapanzi, Chirumanzu, was not asked to plead to a charge of murder in connection with the death of Fortunate Sindi Sithole when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi.

He was further remanded in custody to April 26 pending trial at the High Court.

Marabwa allegedly killed his girlfriend after a dispute over her pregnancy. Prosecuting, Mr Mclean Ndlovu said on December 10 last year, Marabwa phoned Sithole and they agreed to meet in Bulawayo in the afternoon.

He then travelled from Lalapanzi to Bulawayo and met with Sithole who was coming from Mahatshula at around 5PM.

“They resolved to put up at a lodge in Kumalo where they had sex. At 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.

The court heard that Marabwa refused since he had another girlfriend who is also pregnant.

“The accused person 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,” said the prosecutor.

Marabwa, fearing that the other girlfriend would discover the relationship, strangled Sithole using her head scarf.

He allegedly placed a mattress on top of the deceased and set it alight before locking the door of the room in an effort to conceal the murder.

He then disappeared into the night. The murder was discovered by lodge workers who reported the matter to the police leading to Marabwa’s arrest.

A post-mortem was carried out on the deceased’s remains and the cause of death was ascertained as asphyxia and strangulation. — @mashnets