A woman from Waterfalls, Harare, is fighting for her life in hospital after a horrific axe attack allegedly carried out by her husband, who later took his own life in an apparent murder-suicide fuelled by jealousy and suspicion.
The woman, identified as 40-year-old Laiza Sipiwa, was brutally attacked by her husband, Darlington Ndira, aged 39, in the early hours of Sunday morning. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the incident was reportedly sparked by a heated argument over a contact saved in Laiza’s mobile phone — a contact her husband believed pointed to infidelity.
Darlington allegedly flew into a rage after discovering the number of their married neighbour, Tichaona Vetrino, stored in Laiza’s phone under the name “Mbuya Juju.” He also came across some photographs of Tichaona, which further intensified his suspicions that his wife was having an affair. Though the couple argued over the issue that evening, they appeared to let the matter rest and went to bed without reaching a resolution.
But at around 4 a.m., in a shocking turn of events, Darlington reportedly picked up a small axe and attacked Laiza while she was asleep. He struck her once on the head, and when she awoke in pain and panic, he hit her twice more. Laiza collapsed unconscious, lying in a pool of blood.
Following the savage assault, Darlington fled the scene, leaving his wife for dead. Around two hours later, at approximately 6 a.m., he sent a chilling message to Tichaona, claiming he had killed his “prostitute.” Not long after sending that message, he took his own life by hanging himself from a tree near Koala Park, along Seke Road. His body was discovered later that morning by members of the public, who alerted the police.
Police responded swiftly to the reports and launched investigations into the attempted murder and subsequent suicide. Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the incident and said police are treating the case as a suspected domestic violence-related attempted murder. “We are investigating an incident involving a couple in the Retreat area of Waterfalls,” said Inspector Chakanza. “The woman is currently hospitalised following the attack.”
Tichaona Vetrino, the neighbour at the centre of the alleged jealousy, has denied any romantic involvement with Laiza. Speaking to local media, he expressed shock and dismay at being drawn into the tragic situation. “I never dated Laiza,” he said. “Darlington just became paranoid after finding my number in her phone a few months ago, sometime in March. He assumed we were meeting secretly in the mornings because we’d both be up early doing gardening or preparing for work.”
Tichaona also said Darlington had a history of jealousy, despite his own interactions with women in the neighbourhood. “He would joke and talk with other men’s wives but didn’t want anyone talking to his own,” he added. According to Tichaona, the messages he received from Darlington that morning initially seemed like a twisted joke. “He said he had killed Laiza and taken rat poison. I laughed it off at first and showed the messages to my wife. But then we called the police,” he explained.
Laiza was found alive by neighbours and rushed to hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Her survival is being described as miraculous, given the severity of the head injuries she sustained during the attack.
Waterfalls Woman Battles for Life After Ax Attack by Jealous Husband, Who Later Commits Suicide
The case has sparked renewed calls for increased awareness around domestic violence, mental health, and the dangerous consequences of jealousy within relationships. Local community leaders in Waterfalls say the incident has left residents shocked and traumatised, particularly because Darlington and Laiza were seen by many as a typical couple with no obvious signs of turmoil.
“This is a tragedy that could have been avoided,” said one neighbour, who declined to be named. “They kept to themselves mostly. It’s scary to think someone could do that in the middle of the night, and no one hears anything until it’s too late.”
As police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and suicide, many in the community are left grappling with the emotional aftermath. For Laiza, the road to recovery will be long and difficult — physically and emotionally.
The tragic events in Waterfalls serve as a stark reminder of the destructive power of unchecked suspicion, emotional instability, and violence in intimate relationships. Advocates for women’s rights and mental health support have urged couples experiencing conflict or signs of emotional distress to seek professional help before tensions escalate into irreversible tragedy.
