By Judith Nyuke
A 34-year-old woman appeared in court after reportedly poisoning her husband’s food and then pouring hot cooking oil on him, leaving him battling for his life with burns to his face and stomach.
Abigirl Rusape appeared before Harare Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa charged with attempted murder.
She was granted US$50 bail and the matter was rolled over to 2 July 2025.
The State, represented by Rufaro Chonzi alleges that on May 24, 2025, at around 2100 hours, the complainant, Rusape’s husband, returned from work to find her at their residence.
Thereafter, Rusape reportedly served the complainant with food supected to have been mixed with a poisonous substance and the complainant started eating.
The complainant ate the said food a bit and then informed the accused person that he had smelled something like paraffin inside the food and Rusape went on to advise the complainant to keep on eating citing that there was nothing wrong with the food.
The complainant later started to have some stomach pains and the duo went to sleep.
Rusape later woke up leaving the complainant sleeping, locked the door from outside and proceeded to the dining room where she boiled some cooking oil.
The complainant later woke up after hearing his child crying and discovered that Rusape was not in the room. He then struggled to open the door, eventually managing to get outside.
Soon after opening the door, Rusape poured the boiled cooking oil on the complainant’s face, chest, stomach and left hand.
The complainant was rushed to CITMED CLINIC in Chitungwiza where he is admitted and is being treated.
