A 22-year-old woman from Mushandike has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her sister-in-law after a marital dispute, triggered by her refusal to accept her husband’s decision to end the marriage, turned violent.
The incident occurred in Village 18A, Bhati, on January 7 around 1100hrs.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the arrest and the charges of attempted murder.
“We received a case of attempted murder where a 22-year-old woman stabbed her sister-in-law who had intervened in an altercation between the suspect and her husband,” said Inspector Dhewa.
He urged the public to seek mediation from community elders to resolve disagreements peacefully instead of resorting to violence.
“We encourage people to involve community leaders or the police when faced with similar situations and avoid violence,” said Inspector Dehwa.
The suspect has been identified as Liesel Gwara and the victim is her 27-year-old sister-in-law, Atrubhethar Chishoko.
Sources close to the investigation say the conflict began when Gwara’s husband, 22-year-old Albert Chishoko, told her he could no longer stay in the marriage.
An enraged Gwara then went into the kitchen, fetched a knife, and tried to stab her husband who managed to evade her, moving a few meters away.
When Gwara attempted to stab him again and failed, her sister-in-law, Atrubhethar, stepped in to intervene.
Gwara then turned her rage towards Atrukhethar and stabbed her once on the left side of the ribcage.
The matter was reported to the police around 2 PM leading to Gwara’s arrest.
Atrukhethar was rushed to Masvingo Provincial Hospital, where she was admitted in a stable condition.
