A 23-year-old man from Harare has died after drinking rat poison, just 18 days after paying lobola for his wife, following a dispute over when he could take her home and enjoy his conjugal rights, like any other married man.
Cain Mumba had wanted to begin married life with Thelma Hliwayo immediately after completing the customary marriage formalities on 5 September. But church leaders told him that he could not take her to his home or sleep with her until after a white wedding.
The decision left Mumba bitter and frustrated. His family said he believed the customary ceremony had already marked the beginning of his marriage and could not understand why he had to wait before living with his wife.
He later drank rat poison and died, leaving mourners gathered at the family home in Budiriro 4. Burial arrangements had not yet been announced.
Mumba’s family spokesperson, identified only as Nyakabawu, confirmed the death and described him as a loving man who had been expected to play an important role in the family.
“We have been robbed of a loving man and promising leader of our family. Cain wanted to take his wife soon after paying lobola arguing that waiting for a white wedding would pave way for the devil. His church leaders denied him and he became bitter. We did not expect that it would end in this way. To him Roora Day was bigger than a white wedding and it affected him,” she said.
The tragedy came as police warned that disputes between couples and relatives were increasingly ending in murder, attempted murder, suicide and serious injuries across Zimbabwe.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said a series of incidents recorded between 21 and 23 September had left people dead and others fighting for their lives. He said several of the disputes involved allegations of infidelity, while authorities urged families to seek help before disagreements turned violent.
“On 21st September 2026, at Maisa Village, Zhombe, Emily Takadii (23) allegedly had a misunderstanding with her husband over allegations of infidelity,” Nyathi said.
“She allegedly gave a poisonous substance to her two sons, Shyne Tavatya, aged six and Sean Tavatya, aged nine, before ingesting the same substance.
“The two minors died upon admission at Kwekwe District Hospital, while the mother is currently admitted at the same hospital in a critical condition.”
The incident added two children to the growing number of victims caught up in violent domestic disputes. Police said the deaths followed an argument between Takadii and her husband, but did not provide further details about what happened inside the home before the poison was consumed.
The Glen View deaths came months after another fatal incident in the capital, this time in Glen Lorne. Givemore Tawanda Madzinga reportedly shot his wife, Nelisa Madzinga, 40, in the shoulder before shooting himself at their home along Castle Close.
The couple’s four children, aged 14, 12, nine and eight, were in the house when the shooting took place. The dispute was reported to have started the previous evening after Tawanda received a phone call from a woman believed to be his girlfriend.
On the following morning, he reportedly assaulted Nelisa and the children. Nelisa pleaded with him to go to ZRP Highlands so that the matter could be resolved, but he refused. She then decided to make a report.
As she walked down the stairs towards the garage, she heard two gunshots and felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder blade. She reached the garage and found Tawanda lying on the ground, bleeding from the nose. A neighbour took her to Avenues Clinic, where she was admitted.
“We heard gun shots and when we got into their house, we found that Tawanda’s body had a gunshot wound on the right side of the neck.
“The wife said their misunderstanding started when Tawanda received a phone call from his girlfriend,” said the neighbour.
A licensed 6.35mm FN Browning pistol registered in Tawanda’s name under his company was found beside his body. His body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
The latest police brief also detailed an attack at Marowa Village in Mukumbura on 22 September. Robert Tashinga, 50, allegedly struck his wife, Nollent Sinosi, 36, with an axe after a disagreement over allegations of infidelity. Sinosi died at the scene and Tashinga fled into the surrounding area.
Police were searching for him as investigations continued. The incident brought the number of recent cases involving poison, firearms and axes into sharp focus, with family arguments escalating into violence in homes and rural communities.
In Omeath Extension, Mvurwi, a two-year-old boy was killed and his mother seriously injured during another domestic dispute. Police said Kudakwashe Rangarirai, 27, allegedly killed his stepson, Prince Owen Mugari, and seriously injured his 23-year-old wife. He later ingested a poisonous substance and was admitted to Mvurwi Hospital. The woman was receiving treatment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in critical condition.
Another woman was injured in Nyamhunga, Kariba, where police arrested Emmanuel Mpofu, 33, over an alleged attempted murder. Mpofu reportedly severely assaulted his 25-year-old wife after allegations of infidelity. She was receiving treatment at Kariba Hospital.
The recent cases have also revived memories of other domestic disputes in which poison was used. In January 2025, Kholisani Ncube, 49, of Lobengula West in Bulawayo, died after ingesting ECT Etrap 50SP pesticide following an argument with his 44-year-old wife over allegations of infidelity.
His wife found an open packet of the pesticide near a shoe rack and two cups containing a white substance. She tried to help him by giving him milk and charcoal, but his condition did not improve. He died shortly afterwards.
Police said Ncube had gone to bed with his wife at about 9pm before waking roughly an hour later and leaving the bedroom. When he returned, she noticed an unusual smell and saw that he was struggling to walk. He asked for milk before his condition deteriorated.
The cases have placed renewed attention on the speed with which private disputes can become fatal when family members are unable to find a safe way to intervene. Police have urged couples and relatives to use lawful and peaceful means to resolve their differences.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges couples and family members to seek peaceful and lawful means of resolving their differences,” Nyathi said.
“Members of the public are encouraged to seek counselling and involve trusted third parties, including traditional leaders, church leaders and professional counsellors, when faced with marital or domestic challenges.”
For Mumba’s relatives, the warning came too late. His family is now preparing to bury a young man who had paid lobola, believed he had entered a new chapter of his life and expected to take his wife home, only to die less than three weeks after the ceremony.