The Sunday Mail
Bulawayo Bureau
A family dispute over which television channel to watch turned fatal when a woman from Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb axed her husband.
The quarrel over control of the family’s television had initially been between the woman and her daughter, but the former allegedly went on to axe her husband for failing to reprimand their daughter during the misunderstanding.
The incident happened on Friday night when Ordetta Mpofu (44) allegedly axed her husband, Mr Thembani Mpofu (52), three times on the head for failing to support her during the fight over the remote control with their daughter.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
“Police in Bulawayo are investigating a case of murder which occurred on 10 April in Emganwini. On the day at around 7.45pm, the now deceased (father) was watching television with his wife and their two children. One of the children changed the channel they were watching and that did not go down well with her mother, who asked her to return to the previous channel,” said Insp Ncube.
Insp Ncube said an argument ensued between the mother and her daughter. The father, who was watching, did not interfere.
“A misunderstanding arose between the daughter and her mother. The mother became angry and the father didn’t intervene and indicated that he was not involved in their misunderstanding and retired to bed.
“At around 9.30pm, the mother armed herself with an axe, got into their bedroom and axed her husband three times on the head while he was asleep, leading to his death,” said Insp Ncube.
Police say the mother confessed to her daughter that she had killed her father for failing to reprimand her during the misunderstanding.
“She got out of the bedroom and told her daughter that she had killed her father. The daughter got into the bedroom and discovered that her father was bleeding profusely, she then screamed and informed her brother,” said Insp Ncube.
A report was made to the police, who attended to the scene and found the man already dead.
The accused was arrested and is assisting police with investigations.
Insp Ncube urged members of the public to solve any feuds or disputes they might have amicably.
“As police we urge members of the public to be patient with each other in their respective families. It was needless really to lose such a precious life over a television channel. Let’s all exercise self-restraint,” said Insp Ncube.
Efforts to get a comment from the family were fruitless.
