A 34-year-old man, Brian Chanachimwe, appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai yesterday facing murder charges following the death of his ex-wife, Jennifer Kalembo, allegedly over a US$2,500 maintenance dispute involving their three children.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu told the court that Chanachimwe allegedly conspired with his current wife, Olipa Chide, and an accomplice, Jonah Nekati, to kill Kalembo earlier this month.
On January 12, Chanachimwe allegedly lured Kalembo to his Crowhill residence in Borrowdale under the pretext of paying US$150 towards school fees. Upon arrival, Kalembo was allegedly strangled to death.
The court heard that in an attempt to conceal the crime, the suspects removed the SIM card from Kalembo’s cellphone, buried it near the house, and burnt her purse containing her national identity card.
Related Stories
The trio allegedly hired a vehicle, claiming they intended to collect Chanachimwe’s sick mother from the rural areas, before dumping Kalembo’s body along a dust road in Eyecourt.
Kalembo’s body was discovered the following day by Samson Bhobho, triggering a police investigation.
Chanachimwe was arrested on January 19 after detectives linked him to the murder. His current wife, Chide, and Nekati are still at large.
However, reports presented to the court indicate that Chide may have taken her own life yesterday after learning that police were searching for her in connection with the case.
Chanachimwe is expected to return to court on February 4, 2026, with bail applications set to be heard at the High Court.
Leave Comments