Man jailed 6 years for killing wife in drunken row

A 54-year-old Zaka man, who fatally assaulted his 45-year-old wife after a drunken altercation at a local business centre, has been sentenced to an effective six years in prison.

In passing sentence, the High Court condemned the killing as part of a “scourge” of gender-based violence.

High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, sitting with assessors in Masvingo, convicted Freddy Zimombe of culpable homicide after the State accepted his plea to the lesser charge.

The court heard that on May 16, 2025, Zimombe and his wife, Esther Dhokotera (45), were drinking at Chevhu Business Centre in Chief Nhema, Zaka, when a dispute erupted after she became intoxicated and urinated in front of him and other patrons.

Angered by her conduct, Zimombe dragged her outside the shop and launched a prolonged assault using switches and booted feet.

“He took it upon himself to assault her with switches until she died,” the court ruled.

“He was kicking her with booted feet… her neck was broken.”

A post-mortem by Dr Godfrey Zimbwa confirmed that Dhokotera died from head injuries, a fractured neck and severe assault.

The judge said the attack was brutal and sustained, noting that the deceased’s body bore extensive whip-lash marks, facial bruises and other injuries.

“This is, in fact, a borderline murder and culpable homicide case. The offender’s moral blameworthiness is very high,” the judge said.

The court found that although Zimombe had no intention to kill, he was grossly negligent.

“In assaulting the deceased in the manner he did, the accused fell below the reasonable person standard. He ought… to have foreseen the death of the deceased and guarded against it,” the judge said

After the assault, Zimombe left his wife lying by the roadside and went home.

In mitigation, the court heard that Zimombe is a first offender, a father and breadwinner earning about US$100 per month from piece jobs. He had been married to the deceased for 17 years and claimed he was intoxicated at the time.

However, the court said the aggravating factors far outweighed mitigation.

“The deceased died a painful death. The degree of violence exerted upon the deceased is deplorable,” Dube-Banda said.

“Femicide and gender-based violence remain a scourge that continues to ravage our country… Women must be safe in the company of their husbands… not to have their lives ended in a brutal manner by those who should be their protectors.”

The court stressed the need for deterrent sentences, adding that “the killing of women will not be tolerated.”

Zimombe was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective six-year jail term. *_-NewZimbabwe_*