Man sets mother-in-law’s hut on fire before brutally killing her with a machete

A Zimbabwean man is currently on the run after allegedly setting his mother-in-law’s hut on fire and brutally killing her with a machete in Montrose Village, Insiza North.

The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Newton Mthethwa, reportedly committed the heinous act on January 8, 2025. According to police, Mthethwa set fire to the hut where his mother-in-law, 48-year-old Florence Msipha, was sleeping. When she and her 13-year-old daughter fled the burning hut, Mthethwa attacked Florence with a machete, inflicting fatal head injuries.

Relatives revealed that Mthethwa’s wife, identified only as Yvonne, had recently left him and returned to her rural home in Montrose Village. The couple previously lived in Fairbridge, Bulawayo, before the separation.

Assistant Inspector Stanford Mguni, Acting Matabeleland South Provincial Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident. “The late Florence Msipha and her daughter realized their bedroom hut was on fire and managed to escape through the door. Upon exiting, they saw the suspect standing nearby, armed with a machete. He attacked Florence repeatedly, inflicting severe head injuries,” Mguni stated.

Florence’s teenage daughter managed to escape and alerted nearby residents, who quickly informed the police. However, Mthethwa had already fled the scene before authorities arrived. Florence was rushed to Filabusi District Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.

The motive behind the brutal k!lling remains unclear, and authorities are urging anyone with information on Mthethwa’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station as investigations continue.

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