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Daniel Kachere Harare Bureau
A 38-YEAR-OLD woman who was battling for her life at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare after being doused with sulphuric acid by her estranged lover in Goromonzi last month died yesterday.

Assistant Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi of Harare Police said Rudo Bakasa died in the early hours of yesterday.

Bakasa suffered second degree burns after Robson Munamba, 51, who is already married to another woman, allegedly drenched her with the corrosive liquid before leaving her for dead.

Munamba, who is said to be a reverend, was remanded in custody to July 3 in Marondera where he was facing a charge of attempted murder, which is likely to be altered to murder following Bakasa’s death.

The State, led by prosecutor Shingirai Nyengere had it that on April 6 this year, Munamba left Botswana where he works as a mechanic and came to Zimbabwe.

It was said that he intended to confront Bakasa on why she had decided to terminate their affair. Munamba, it is alleged, then smuggled five litres of sulphuric acid from Botswana which he intended to use on Bakasa and he reached Glen Norah, Harare, with the dangerous liquid.

On May 8, at around 2PM, Munamba — armed with the acid — left Harare for Masiyiwa village in Goromonzi where Bakasa was staying with her mother, the court heard. Upon his arrival at the homestead, he found Bakasa not at home and he was accommodated by her mother for the night.

On the following day at around 9AM, he allegedly phoned Bakasa intending to know of her whereabouts.

He learnt that Bakasa was on her way to the village where she wanted to attend a funeral.

Munamba is said to have immediately left the homestead so that he could intercept her at the bus stop about a kilometre away from her homestead.

At around 9:30AM, Munamba reportedly met Bakasa who had disembarked a lift.

He confronted her over the termination of their affair and she insisted on the break up.

Claims are that Munamba suddenly grabbed Bakasa and tried to force her to drink the sulphuric acid which he had put in a smaller container but he was overpowered.

It is the State’s case that he then poured the acid on her face and all over the body, spilled the remaining liquid before fleeing the scene.

Bakasa suffered severe burns and injuries as a result of the attack, it is alleged. She was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital were she succumbed to the burns which covered 50 percent of her body.

Munamba was arrested after he was lured to the hospital by detectives.