The High Court sitting in Gweru has sentenced Brighton Kadhlanga (31) of Chinyama village, Chief Gambiza, to 30 years imprisonment after convicting him of the brutal murder of his wife, Patience Madula (26), in a violent domestic dispute that ended in tragedy.
The sentence was confirmed by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) in a statement yesterday, which described the case as one marked by extreme brutality and repeated threats of death.
“The High Court sitting at Gweru has sentenced Brighton Kadhlanga (31) of Chinyama Village, Chief Gambiza, Gweru, to 30 years imprisonment after convicting him of the brutal murder of his wife, Patience Madula (26),” said the NPAZ.
The offence occurred on 20 December 2025 at around 1900 hours after Kadhlanga returned home from Maguma Business Centre and accused his wife of infidelity while she was seated in a kitchen hut with her mother-in-law and the couple’s two-year-old child.
“The tragic incident occurred on the 20 December 2025 at around 1900 hours. The offender returned home from Maguma Business Centre and accused his wife of infidelity while she was seated in a kitchen hut together with her mother-in-law and their two-year-old son,” the NPA said.
According to the prosecution, the confrontation escalated rapidly into violence, forcing the child’s grandmother to flee the homestead with the minor after Kadhlanga allegedly issued threats to kill both his wife and child.
“A violent altercation erupted, during which the offender threatened to kill his wife and their child. Fearing for their safety, the child’s grandmother fled from the homestead carrying the minor, leaving the couple behind,” the authority said.
The court heard that Kadhlanga then launched a sustained and fatal assault on his wife using household objects.
“In a fit of rage, the offender assaulted the now deceased several times using a burning log before striking her twice on the head with a three-legged aluminium pot,” the NPA said.
The attack left Patience Madula with extensive injuries, including deep head wounds, leg injuries and multiple bruises across her body.
Further evidence presented in court showed that Kadhlanga later called the deceased’s brother and openly declared his intention to kill his wife over allegations of infidelity.
“Later that night, the offender phoned the deceased’s brother, stating that he intended to kill her over allegations of an extramarital affair,” the prosecution said.
During that call, the victim herself reportedly spoke to her brother, revealing the severity of her injuries.
“During the call, the now deceased informed her brother that she had been seriously assaulted and could no longer walk,” the NPA said.
Police discovered the victim’s body in the early hours of 21 December 2025 inside the kitchen hut after the suspect had fled the scene.
“Police attended the scene in the early hours of the 21st of December 2025 and found the lifeless body lying inside the kitchen hut.
The offender fled after committing the offence but was arrested on the 31st of December 2025,” the NPA added.
A post-mortem concluded that death resulted from severe head trauma, brain injury and subarachnoid haemorrhage.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe warned against escalating domestic disputes into violence, urging communities to seek lawful resolution mechanisms before situations turn fatal.
