A 29-year-old man from Mberengwa village outside Beit Bridge, who was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, committed suicide while in detention at the local police cells.

The suspect, Leejoy Siyayi Walker Zimusi of Mberengwa, who had been on the run after allegedly murdering his wife, Charity Moyo, following a domestic dispute, was arrested in Musina last week.

The local police spokesperson, Chief Supt Lawrence Chinhengo, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Wednesday last week at around 06:00. “We received a tip-off that the suspect was hiding in Musina and we arrested him with the assistance of our South African counterparts. We then detained him at our cells, together with 10 other suspects,' he said.

Chinhengo said: “Zimusi was detained in the cell with other inmates until the following morning, when the other suspects were screened and released and he was left alone in the cell. However, when one of our officers went into the cell, intending to conduct a routine clean-up, he found the lifeless body of Zimusi with a string tied around his neck,” Chinhengo said.

The body was ferried to a local hospital for a post mortem.

According to the police, Zimusi had a longstanding dispute with his wife, Moyo, whom he accused of indulging in extra-marital affairs. On 13 September, Zimusi axed his wife to death and fled to South Africa, where he sought refuge until his arrest last week.