Son, 22, accused of killing his mother over money jailed

Police in Malawi’s southern district of Blantyre have arrested a 22- year-old man over the death of his biological mother who was a civilian secretary to the Southern Region’s Deputy Commissioner of Prison Services.

The suspect, Rosario Luso Gwembere, is alleged to have attacked and killed his 50-year-old mother, Hilda Gwembere, Monday night at his home in Sunnyside in the city of Blantyre before being arrested the next day.

The deceased, who hailed from Kamwendo village, Traditional Authority Kwataine in central district of Ntcheu, had earlier quarreled with her son over money they received from one of their tenants in Zomba.

“The son had a quarrel with his mother (Mrs. Hilda Gwembere) over money rentals from their house in Zomba left by his late father.

“The rental money was collected by the suspect’s mother but this did not go well with the son. The suspect has been so stubborn in the family for so long over the issue. Then during the night of April 15 and 16, the suspect assaulted his mother until his muscles got tired,” reads the recorded police statement from the deceased’s younger sister, Linda Somanje, 44.

She was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Central hospital where it was ascertained that her left ribs were broken and that she died due to the “assault and strangulation”, according to the statement.

“Search was conducted in the suspect’s bedroom and police found cobs of cannabis sativa. We may suspect that the accused person has been stubborn due to drugs,” reads further the statement.

In another murder case, police are keeping in custody Ganizani Zema Chisanja, 21, from Chamba Village, Traditional Authority Nsomba in Blantyre district for allegedly stabbing his elder sister, Rhoda Lumayo to death.