Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. BRIDGET Makaza, the wife of the late Kurai Bus company owner McCloud Zvavovaviri Mapanga, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for murdering her husband.
Justice Emilia Muchawa handed down the sentence last week after a full trial, dismissing Makaza’s claims of accidental shooting and a history of abuse as an attempt to evade responsibility.
The court found that in the early hours of May 14, 2018, Makaza fatally shot her sleeping husband three times on the shoulders and neck using a.38 Amadeo Rossi revolver.
To conceal the crime, she staged a robbery at their Belvedere residence, claiming intruders killed Mapanga and stole US$12 000.
However evidence presented during trial exposed a calculated plan.
Makaza travelled to South Africa on May 2, 2018, where she purchased an unregistered firearm and smuggled to Zimbabwe by road.
Justice Muchawa stated that she “waited for a convenient time” to carry out the murder, which occurred while Mapanga was asleep.
After the shooting, Makaza raised a false alarm, shouting “thief, thief,” and abandoned her mortally wounded husband without seeking help.
Under the pretence of reporting the robbery, she instead drove to a swampy area to dispose of the murder weapon and a pair of latex gloves she had used.
“To sanitise her disposal trip, the accused passed through Mabelreign Police Station and reported a robbery,” Justice Muchawa said in her ruling.
After her initial arrest and placement on remand, Makaza fled to the United Kingdom.
She was re-arrested upon her return to Zimbabwe in December 2024, leading to the recent trial and sentencing.
In her defence, Makaza alleged a long history of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, citing assault, forced intimacy and psychological trauma.
She claimed the shooting was accidental, occurring during a struggle after Mapanga accused her of witchcraft and threatened her life.
She denied purchasing the gun and alleged her confession was made under duress.
However, Justice Muchawa found that the evidence “overwhelmingly” pointed to premeditation.
The judge ruled that Makaza’s actions — procuring the weapon, waiting for the victim to be asleep, firing three shots and meticulously staging a cover-up — demonstrated a clear intent to kill.
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