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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau

Police in Mashonaland Central have launched a manhunt for a Guruve man of Johanne Marange apostolic sect who fatally assaulted his wife for refusing to keep her head bald.

Daniel Mufambi (35) accused his wife Benedict Mutero (22) of failing to abide by the church doctrine of shaving the head bald.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe said Mutero died upon arrival at Guruve hospital.

Insp Mundembe said the incident happened on 28 October 2023, at around 9 am.

The late Mutero was also a member of the same apostolic sect.

On the fateful day, the couple had a misunderstanding, with Mufambi accusing his wife of disregarding church doctrine.

He then ordered the wife to accompany him to a church service but she refused.

He started flogging her, slapping and punching her all over the body.

Mutero collapsed and fell unconscious and the husband dragged her into a kitchen hut.

The mother-in-law, Agnes Mufambi (59) who witnessed the violence from her home, 300 meters away, summoned her daughter Tabeth to intervene.

Tabeth refrained her brother from further assaulting Mutero while brother to the accused Obvious secured transport from Matthew Kagwande (36) from Chingwaru Village.

Mutero was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Police officers from Guruve attended the scene but Mufambi had already fled.

The deceased had bruises all over the body and a swollen head.

Insp Mundembe appealed to people with information on the whereabouts of Mufambi to alert the nearest police station.

He advised couples in abusive environments to open up and seek help from relatives and law enforcement agents during the early stages.

He said Christian couples must be exemplary and safeguard life.