POLICE in Rukwa Region have confirmed that a fugitive identified as Boniface Matumbile (31) has been arrested in Dar es Salaam, for allegedly chopping off the palms of his ex- girlfriend, Shukuru Joseph (29) for jealousness.
Matumbule, a mason from Lusaka village in Sumbawanga District has been on run for almost nine months. He was featuring on Police record as the most wanted suspect.
Matumbule and Shukuru, who were blessed with a daughter, were lovers for three years until the later was married to Abel Said (30) on June 14, 2015.
Updating the journalists recently, Rukwa Regional Police Commander (RPC) Shadrack Masija confirmed that Matumbile was arrested in Dar es Salaam on June, 26, 2023, where he had gone for hiding.
“He will be returned to Sumbawanga, where the fugitive suspect will be arraigned once preliminary investigation of his case is completed,” said the RPC.
He further explained that the suspect allegedly committed the crime at Keleni village, Lyowa Ward of Kalambo District on September 14, 2022 at around 20:00 hours.
“The apprehension of the suspect was made possible following collaborative efforts with other state organs and tip off from law abiding citizens …. as of now officers are on completion of legal process and subsequently straining him to the court,” emphasised the RPC.
He went on to say that the cause of the suspect to commit the crime was a sheer jealousness after the victim refused to start their intimate relationship afresh because she was already married to another man for eight years.
Shukuru, the victim, was quoted giving her account of the ordeal, saying they had been in intimate relationship with the suspect for three years since 2011 until they broke up in 2013.
She went on to explain that on that material night her ex-boyfriend the suspect armed with machete he attacked her in front of her house.
“He first cut of my left palm and did the same to the remaining right palm … I also sustained multiple injuries on head and on thighs. He was telling me that he did it so that my husband stops admiring me and subsequently I get divorced.
“He threatened to stab me if I ever shouted and then he disappeared …. I bled profusely, I got treated at Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital in Sumbawanga,” she confided.
On his side, Mr Saidi, the husband of the victim said on that material nights he was in Shinyanga Region working on Standard Railway Gauge (SGR) project as a casual labourer.
“I got married to Shukuru on June 14, 2015 and have blessed with two children; the first born, Johari (7) a girl and Taraq a boy who is aged two years and nine months,” he added.
Across section of citizens interviewed separately by this paper condemned the crime, calling it inhumane and barbaric.
