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Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]

A woman accused of murdering her husband and two young children in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, is due to appear in court today. Happiness Chimbangu, 34, is alleged to have killed her husband, Edwin Chimbangu (35), their four-year-old son, Promise, and their seven-month-old daughter, Prudence, at their rented home in the early hours of Thursday morning following an altercation. She is accused of using a metal digging tool in the attack.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department’s homicide division visited the scene of the crime in Cowdray Park yesterday as part of their investigation.

“She will appear in court tomorrow (today) to face three charges of murder,” said acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.

The house were the murder took place

Saturday Chronicle spoke with Pastor Davison Muture, the family’s church leader in Cowdray Park. He described Happiness as a reclusive individual who attended church regularly.

“On the surface, she did not appear to be someone going through difficult times, and of course, people express their feelings and emotions differently. As church leaders, it’s important to respect congregants’ personal spaces so those who want to talk about their problems can do so freely. The family could have approached any of the church leaders to talk about their problems.

A problem shared is a problem half solved,” said Pastor Muture.
Neighbours described the family as private, keeping to themselves since moving into their rented house in mid-November last year. They described Happiness as sociable, exchanging morning greetings while sweeping her yard, but spending most of her time indoors with her children.

On arrival at the scene, police found the bloodied bodies of Edwin, Promise, and Prudence lying on the bed with multiple stab wounds, Assistant Inspector Msebele said.

“Upon arrival at the accused person’s house, police found the now-deceased Edwin Chimbangu lying on the bed with deep cut injuries on the right ear, neck, right cheek, and near the right eye. Promise Chimbangu was lying on top of a mattress with a deep cut injury on the back shoulder and several cuts on the right side of the head. Prudence Chimbangu was lying on top of the bed on the left side of Edwin Chimbangu, with deep cut injuries on the right side of the head and right cheek. All were dead,” she said.

A bloodstained metal digging tool, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered near the door. Happiness was found wearing a blue dress, also covered in blood. The bodies were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post-mortem examinations.

According to Assistant Inspector Msebele, on Wednesday morning, Happiness visited her mother, telling her that her husband was not providing enough for the family, and that they were living in abject poverty. Later that day, Happiness told her mother she wanted to commit suicide.

“On the same day, at around 3pm, the accused person returned to her mother’s place of residence again, looking stressed. She advised her mother to take care of her children as she was going to kill herself,” said Assistant Inspector Msebele.

At around 10 pm, Edwin called his mother-in-law, asking her to come to their house as his wife was talking about suicide.
“The accused person’s (Happiness) mother, along with two adult family church members, went to the accused’s house, where they conducted some counselling after she confessed she wanted to kill herself. They then left for their respective homes at around 12:01 am on January 30, 2025,” said Assistant Inspector Msebele.

At around 2am, Happiness’s mother received a call from a church member living nearby, informing her that her daughter had come to his house and confessed to killing her family.

Assistant Inspector Msebele urged the public not to take the law into their hands.
“It is disheartening that such a young family has been lost in such a way. We also urge the community to protect those close to people with suicidal tendencies to avoid such incidents,” she said.