A married couple were found dead in their bedroom in Glen View 3 in Harare on Wednesday morning, hours after they had reportedly sought counselling over problems in their relationship.
Nyasha Mhungu, 35, and his wife, Olga Muzhingi, 30, died overnight at their home as police began investigating a violent dispute believed to have involved claims of infidelity. A man described by neighbours as Olga’s suspected lover was also admitted to hospital after being severely beaten.
The deaths have left detectives examining a blood-stained faeces, an axe, a shambok, Olga’s mobile phone and other items collected from the bedroom. The exhibits were taken away as police secured the scene and removed the bodies for post-mortem examinations.
National police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the couple had been found in their bedroom.
“They were found dead in their bedroom,” Nyathi said.
He said police were following a possible lead after receiving reports of a “marital dispute” between the couple before they were found dead.
The investigation has focused on the events that unfolded after Mhungu allegedly found love messages on his wife’s phone. Neighbours said the discovery angered him and that he confronted the man he believed was involved with Olga. The confrontation reportedly turned violent, leaving the other man with serious injuries and fighting for his life in hospital.
“As we speak, the suspected lover is admitted at hospital after he was assaulted by Nyasha for dating his wife,” a neighbour said.
The neighbour said Mhungu later turned his anger on Olga. Residents reportedly saw him beating her on Tuesday evening and questioning her about the alleged affair. The couple’s attempt to seek help from their church leader earlier that day had not prevented the dispute from escalating.
“Nyasha and Olga had been to the police several times before their church leader decided to handle the issues. Nyasha spent much of Tuesday with Apostle Chikaka for counselling. In the evening, Nyasha was spotted beating Olga, questioning her about the alleged lover, but we did not think it would end this way.”
Mhungu was known in the area as a bodybuilder and was also said to have worked as a bouncer for Apostle Hardlow Chikaka of the Baptism of Fire International Ministries. Olga made a living through vending. The couple had lived together for about nine years and had children, including a six-year-old girl who became the first person to enter their bedroom in the early hours of Wednesday.
The child had reportedly been whipped by her grandmother, Gogo Evelyn Tapera, after messing up her blankets. She ran to her parents’ bedroom seeking refuge, but instead found her father vomiting. She returned to her grandmother and described what she had seen.
A relative said Olga may already have been dead at that stage, although the timing of her death had not been established. The child’s account prompted relatives to go to the house, where the couple were found dead at about 8am.
Olga’s brother, Nebert Muzhingi, said the family had not expected the tragedy. He said the couple appeared to be living peacefully when he saw them on Monday, despite disagreements that had surfaced from time to time.
“On Monday, I was with them and everything was okay. Little did I know there would be another flare-up,” he said.
“We were informed by one of their children and I rushed there at around 8am. I found the two dead, while the child had indicated that she saw her father vomiting. We were shocked since the two have been living a peaceful life, although in marriage issues arise here and there. We have lost loving people and they were dedicated to their church duties,” Nebert said.
Family members also told police about unresolved issues linked to the payment of lobola. One relative said Mhungu had not paid lobola, despite staying with Olga for the past nine years. The issue was among the matters being examined as investigators worked to establish what led to the deaths.
The removal of the axe from the bedroom drew attention from residents gathered outside the home. There was no immediate indication of how the weapon had been used or whether it was directly linked to either death. The blood-stained stool was also taken away as part of the investigation, together with the shambok and the cellphone.
The Glen View deaths came during a particularly violent September in Harare, where two other domestic disputes had already ended in death.
On 9 September, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission commissioner Martin Muduva died after suffering injuries in an axe attack at his home in Dzivarasekwa Extension. His wife, Lyliosa Chirara, later died after taking poison. Muduva was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where he succumbed to his injuries. Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The dispute was linked to reports that Muduva had been involved with another woman, Patience Mangwiro, and had taken steps towards paying lobola for her while his marriage to Chirara continued. A friend who arrived at the scene described the bedroom as “AN ABBATOIR”.
The court heard that Tari and Sarurai had a disagreement at their home on 17 September. Sarurai allegedly assaulted her before strangling her. Relatives took Tari to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Sarurai was remanded in custody to 2 October and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
In Glen View 3, police have continued collecting evidence from the bedroom while relatives wait for the post-mortem results. The investigation is expected to establish how Nyasha and Olga died, what happened during the hours after their counselling session, and how the injuries suffered by the hospitalised man fit into the events of that night.
For now, the couple’s home remains the centre of an investigation that began with a child seeking safety from a family dispute and ended with two bodies being removed from a bedroom, a wounded man in hospital and a community searching for answers about how a troubled marriage reached such a violent end.