Residents of Unit CA in Chitungwiza were left in shock after a domestic dispute turned violent in the early hours of Sunday morning, when a woman allegedly poured hot cooking oil on her husband following an argument over her right to seek employment.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m., and according to neighbours, the altercation stemmed from long-standing tensions between the couple.
The woman, whose identity is being withheld pending police investigations, is reported to have been repeatedly denied the opportunity to work by her husband, despite holding a university degree.
Speaking to this Bustop TV, a close neighbour said the couple had been facing marital challenges related to the woman’s desire to pursue a career.
“She has a degree and wanted to work, but her husband always stopped her,” said the neighbour. “They have three children. We never imagined things would get this bad. The issue of being denied the right to work is what caused this disaster.”
Another resident, who rushed to the scene after hearing loud cries, described a distressing scene inside the home.
“We heard shouting and screaming. When we got there, the husband was on the floor in pain, with the children crying around him,” the resident said. “We later heard she had also tried to poison him before this, but it didn’t work.”
According to sources, after the attack, the woman attempted to take her own life and is currently receiving treatment under police guard at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. The husband, whose condition is reported to be serious, was admitted to CITMed Hospital with burn injuries.
Police confirmed the incident and said investigations are underway.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for official comment at the time of publication.
Another neighbour expressed concern over the emotional impact on the children.
“The kids were terrified. They witnessed everything,” she said. “This is not something children should ever have to see. We hope they get counselling.”
Residents say the couple had previously kept to themselves, with few outward signs of trouble. However, several now say the woman had confided in them about her frustrations.
“She would say she feels like a prisoner in her own home,” said one woman. “She studied hard, and now she is being stopped from using her education. It was only a matter of time before something went wrong.”
Authorities have urged couples facing domestic disputes to seek professional counselling and resolve conflicts through peaceful means.
Police say charges are likely to follow once the woman is medically cleared to give a statement.
