Police detain Rufiji man over suspicions of killing wife

Mkuranga. Police in the Rufiji Special Police Zone are holding a man for allegedly killing his wife, identified as Rosemary Magombora, 43.

The deceased was an assistant nurse in charge of Mkuranga District Hospital in Coast Region.

According to Rufiji Special Police Zone acting commander Mohamed Likwata, the incident occurred on May 21 at around 7.30am, saying the deceased was hit with a hard object.

He said after she died, the suspect buried the body near their house in Mkwalila Village in the district.

“The primary investigations show that the husband was accusing his wife of infecting him with HIV, adding that the man always claimed that his wife was cheating on him.

Mr Likwata said they learnt the incident after the husband appeared before the police to report that his wife had gone missing since the night of May 20.

“After suspecting that something was not right about his report; we embarked on investigations. There was a hole near the home that we were suspicious of. We sought court permits to dig it, and the body was found there and recovered,” he explained.

Commander Likwata said that the suspect was still in police custody and that he would be taken to court once preliminary investigations are completed.

For his part, the medical officer in charge for Mkuranga District Hospital, Dr Stephen Mwandambo, confirmed that the deceased used to work at the hospital and that the management and staff were still in shock over the news.

“I saw her for the last time last Friday. We are saddened and shocked by her demise, it is inhuman,” he said adding that they were finalising the post-mortem processes before handing over the body to relatives for burial arrangements.