The family of Jennifer Kalembo, a 35-year-old woman who was allegedly killed by her ex-husband, Brian Chanachimwe (34), with the assistance of his wife, has declared that the deceased will fight from her grave.
The murder was motivated by an attempt by Chanachimwe to evade US$2,500 in overdue child maintenance payments.
The murder occurred on January 2.
Chanachimwe appeared before a Harare magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai, on charges of murder. On that fateful day, Kalembo was murdered in a dispute over maintenance payments.
Shockingly, Chanachimwe’s wife, Olipa Chide, who was expected to be charged as an accomplice, took her own life after learning that police were searching for her.
Jennifer was buried in Wedza, leaving family members with numerous unanswered questions.
Ashley Kalembo, the deceased’s brother and family spokesperson said, said they are speechless.
“Tiri kurwadziwa semhuri.
“Tichatangira ipapo as for ngozi vanopedzerana vega as you can see that he committed the offence, and was arrested in less than one week.
“They were both arrested with his wife, who also committed suicide.
“She will fight from the grave,” he said.
Ashley recounted Jennifer’s usual communication habits, stating that she would always inform her family when she went out.
“On the day of her disappearance, something was unusual.
“However, her phone was unreachable throughout the afternoon.
“We assumed Jennifer and Brian had made plans, but she failed to return home that night.
“The following day, my younger sister called Brian to inquire about Jennifer’s whereabouts.
“Brian claimed he had met Jennifer the day before, given her US$50, and left her shopping in town.
“We then reported Jennifer as missing, prompting the entire family to take action.
“The missing persons report was filed on January 13.
“Later that same day, police discovered a woman’s body with her mouth and face bound by cloth, and US$11 was found placed on her body,” he added.
Ashley’s sister said that they are not happy, and justice should prevail.
“We just want justice to prevail, nothing else.
“We wish the courts to consider our pains as a family,” she said.
Brian was apprehended and confessed to the crime, implicating his new wife in the murder.
While Brian’s wife denied her involvement in the actual murder, she admitted to helping him move the body.
Allegations are that Chanachimwe, along with Chide and Nekati, conspired to murder Kalembo.
The alleged motive was to escape the mounting child support obligation tied to the three children he sired with Kalembo.
On January 12, Chanachimwe reportedly lured Kalembo from her home in Mayambara to his residence in Pazza Crowhill, Borrowdale, under the pretext of providing US$150 for their children’s school fees.
Upon arrival, she was allegedly ambushed inside their house by Chanachimwe and Chide, who then fatally strangled her.
In an effort to conceal their crime, the couple allegedly disposed of evidence by taking Kalembo’s cellphone, removing the SIM card, and burying it near a rock behind their home.
They also burned her purse, which contained her national identity card, in an attempt to erase any trace of her identity before hiring a vehicle from a man named Solomon Gwanyanya, claiming they needed to transport a sick relative from the countryside.
Instead, they enlisted the help of their accomplice, Nekati, to load Kalembo’s lifeless body into the trunk of the hired Honda Fit around midnight.
The three drove to a remote dirt road near Eyecourt, opposite St Mary’s Waterworks, where they dumped Kalembo’s body.
On the following day, January 13, a passerby named Samson Bhobho discovered Kalembo’s body lying face-up on a dirt road.
The other accomplice, Jonah Nekati, remains at large.
Chanachimwe is set to return to court on February 4, with any bail application having to be made at the High Court.
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