Man burns wife to death after suspecting her of having an affair

POLICE in Lusaka have arrested a 42-year-old man of Mtendere township for allegedly burning his wife who later died of her wounds.

The man is said to have poured kerosene on his 30-year-old wife and set her ablaze on suspicion that she was having an illicit affair with another man.

Pascalina Hangoma died of the burns inflicted on her by Daniel Ngulube, who later drank a poisonous substance on an apparent attempt to commit suicide. The bid failed.

Lusaka Province commissioner of police Charity Katanga said in an interview yesterday that the incident happened in Kanyama on Saturday around 21:00 hours.

On the fateful night, Ngulube allegedly left his house – after buying kerosene – and went to Kanyama township, where Ms Hangoma lived.

She said Ngulube allegedly poured the kerosene on Ms Hangoma and set her ablaze.
“He suspected her of having an affair with a man only identified as Rodrick, a shop owner,” Ms Katanga said.

She said Ngulube later went to buy a poisonous substance and drank it.
Passers-by took the couple to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for treatment but Ms Hangoma succumbed to the burns yesterday around 11:00 hours.

“Ngulube was treated and discharged from the hospital and is currently in police custody,” Ms Katanga said.

Meanwhile, in Chingola, police have arrested two of three suspected criminals who allegedly broke into a makeshift stall, commonly known as kantemba, and stole groceries worth K493, MWILA NTAMBI reports.

The other suspect is on the run. Copperbelt deputy commissioner of Police Byemba Musole said in an interview that the incident happened in Chingola’s Misenga in the early hours of yesterday.

He said the suspects, who were armed with iron bars, attacked the security guard outside the makeshift stall before overpowering the one inside.

This is barely 48 hours after six criminals beat a security guard to death at Brisket Supermarket in Chingola after breaking into the premises and stealing goods worth K10,600.
He said after overpowering the security guard who was outside the makeshift stall, the criminals wrestled with the one inside.

Mr Musole said the owner of the makeshift stall heard the noise and alerted police officers, who quickly rushed to the scene.
The suspects are detained at Chingola Central Police Station.

And Mr Musole has appealed to Chingola residents to desist from buying cheap items from unknown people because they risk acquiring stolen property.
He urged residents be alert and to report suspicious looking people to the police.

NANCY SIAME, ZambiaDailyMail