MUTARE – A soldier stationed at 41 Infantry Battalion was fatally stabbed in a suspected love triangle in Mutare on October 29, police said.
The victim, named only as Lance Corporal Mangena, was allegedly stabbed several times in the stomach by Kumbirai Mugona, 45, of Chikanga Phase 2, at a house in Mountain Rise, Mutare.
According to investigators, Mangena – who was attending a basic driver’s course at 3 Infantry Brigade Headquarters – had gone to visit his girlfriend, Lucia Saunyana, 22.
While the two were together, Mugona, who was also in a relationship with Saunyana, allegedly phoned her saying he wanted to see her. She reportedly told him not to come, but Mugona is said to have driven to her residence around 10:20PM in his Toyota Hiace.
Police say Saunyana ran off upon realising Mugona had arrived. The suspect allegedly entered the house, found Mangena naked in bed, rushed back to his vehicle to fetch a knife, and stabbed the soldier several times in the abdomen.
After the attack, Mugona reportedly drove himself to ZRP Chikanga to hand himself over.
Responding officers found Mangena lying unconscious in a pool of blood. He was rushed to Mutare General Hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mugona is detained at ZRP Chikanga, while Mangena’s body was taken to Mutare General Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem.
