The High Court circuit at Hwange has sentenced 35 year old Khulekani Mpofu to 19 years in prison with hard labour after convicting him of murdering his wife.
The fatal incident occurred on 2 September, 2025, at Sibanda homestead in Lupane, where Mpofu entered a bedroom hut and stabbed his wife multiple times with a kitchen knife while she was sleeping.
Neighbours were alerted by screams from the hut and they, together with the village head, rushed to investigate. They found the victim lying naked in a pool of blood on the floor, with severe stab wounds, while Mpofu was fleeing the scene holding a knife.
Mpofu surrendered to police on 5 September, 2025, three days after the attack. In his defence, he claimed that he discovered a romantic message from another man on his wife’s phone, alleging that she became aggressive and destroyed the SIM card, sparking the violent confrontation.
“The court determined that Mpofu acted with intent and convicted him of murder,” said the prosecution.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said, “Domestic disputes must not escalate into lethal violence. The law will deal firmly with individuals who resort to lethal force in personal conflicts. This conviction sends a clear message that violent reactions, regardless of provocation, will attract the full force of the law.”
The court emphasised that acts of violence within households are treated with utmost seriousness, and perpetrators will face stringent penalties to protect lives and uphold justice.
