Cheating man destroys home furniture, takes own life
By Auther Chimbgwa
A Harare man caught cheating on his wife in love messages exchanged on his phone with a lover ran amok and destroyed some home furniture before taking his own life through drinking some rat poison.
Police spokesperson for Harare Province Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Stephen Andirade (54) of Crowborough Phase 3.
“On 18 February 2026, Andirade had a misunderstanding with his wife Viola Mwanza (52) after she discovered love messages between him and a certain lady in his phone,” said Inspector Chakanza in a statement.
“He became violent and started destroying household property including a television and refrigerator.
“The wife then locked herself in the bedroom.”
But Andirade broke the bedroom door, and Mwanza ran away leaving the violent husband in the process of destroying their property.
When Mwanza returned home on the following day, an unsettled Andirade left home immediately without saying anything.
He was later seen in Crowborough Phase 3 Wetlands groaning in pain by neighbours who rushed him to a Kuwadzana hospital where he was pronounced dead on admission.
A report was made at Kuwadzana police station and the scene was attended.
A Mirinda drink container was later recovered. It only had some residue smelling of rat poison pills.
He also left a suicide note at home stating that he had committed suicide, police said.
Police examined the body of the deceased and there were no suspicious injuries.
The body was taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
