A Zimbabwean man is on the run after allegedly setting his mother-in-law’s hut on fire and fatally attacking her with a machete in Montrose Village, Insiza North.
The suspect, 28-year-old Newton Mthethwa, is believed to have committed the crime on January 8, 2025.
Police report that Mthethwa set fire to the hut where his 48-year-old mother-in-law, Florence Msipha, was sleeping. When Florence and her 13-year-old daughter managed to escape the flames, Mthethwa attacked Florence with a machete, causing fatal injuries to her head.
Relatives revealed that Mthethwa’s wife, Yvonne, had recently left him and returned to her rural home in Montrose Village. The couple had previously lived in Fairbridge, Bulawayo, before their separation.
Assistant Inspector Stanford Mguni, Acting Matabeleland South Provincial Police Spokesperson, confirmed the details of the incident.
“Florence Msipha and her daughter realized their hut was on fire and managed to escape. Upon exiting, they saw the suspect nearby, armed with a machete. He then attacked Florence, delivering fatal blows to her head,” Mguni stated.
Florence’s daughter managed to flee and alerted nearby residents, who quickly contacted the police. However, Mthethwa had already fled the scene by the time authorities arrived. Florence was rushed to Filabusi District Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.
The motive for the brutal attack remains unclear, and police are urging anyone with information on Mthethwa’s whereabouts to come forward as investigations continue.
