A 91- year-old woman is said to have been raped & killed while another woman set herself on fire in Zomba

Zomba witnessed some traumatising scenes on Tuesday as a 91- year-old woman is said to have been raped before being killed while another woman set herself on fire after marital wrangles.

According to Eastern Region Police Public Relations Officer Thomeck Nyaude, the 91-year- old woman Meria Chisema, who lived alone, was found dead with injuries on the forehead just above the eye and when the body was taken to Zomba Central Hospital for post-mortem results indicated that she had been raped.

He said that investigations are underway and intensified since the incident is not the first one to happen in Traditional Authority Mlumbe’s area in Zomba.

Meanwhile, another woman torched herself after having some disagreements with her husband.

Nyaude said the woman went to her husband’s workplace to drop a three-year old baby in protest over issues that had brought the family on the rocks.

“When she left the baby with the father, she told him that they will meet in heaven and after walking some distance she poured petrol on herself and set herself ablaze,” he said.

Nyaude said after noticing that the wife had set herself on fire, the husband ran away in confusion while the wife was later taken to Zomba Central Hospital where she has been receiving treatment.

Nyaude said the police will charge the woman with attempted suicide once she gets out of the hospital. – Reported by Madalitso Musa