A Harare man has been accused of conspiring with his new wife to murd3r his ex-wife in an alleged bid to escape paying US$2,500 in child maintenance arrears, a plot that has now led to murd3r charges and a reported su!cide.
The accused, Brian Chanachimwe, 34, appeared before a magistrates’ court in Harare, Zimbabwe, where prosecutors alleged that he worked with his current wife, Olipa Chide, and another man, Jonah Nekati, to k!ll his former wife, Jennifer Kalembo, 35.
Presenting the case, prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu told the court that the alleged conspiracy was driven by Chanachimwe’s desire to avoid settling child maintenance arrears owed for his three children with the deceased. “The accused persons connived to murd3r the now deceased after the accused was being pursued to pay US$2 500 child maintenance arrears for his three children with the deceased,” Jambawu said.
According to the prosecution, the plan was set in motion on January 12 when Chanachimwe allegedly lured Kalembo from her home in Mayambara to his residence in Pazza Crowhill, Borrowdale, under the pretext of giving her US$150 for the children’s school fees. Once she arrived, the alleged attack took place.
“The now deceased was ambushed inside their house by the accused and Olipa Chide who strangled her until she died,” the prosecutor told the court.
The state further alleged that the suspects attempted to conceal the crime by disposing of Kalembo’s phone and burning her purse and identity documents. They then hired a vehicle under false pretences and, with the help of Nekati, allegedly transported her body and dumped it along a remote dirt road near Eyecourt.
Kalembo’s body was discovered the following day, January 13, by a passerby identified as Samson Bhobho. As Chanachimwe appeared in court, the case took another dramatic turn, with reports that Chide d!ed by su!cide after learning police were searching for her. Nekati remains on the run.
Chanachimwe is expected back in court on February 4. The court heard that any application for bail must be made at the High Court.