Police in Songwe Region have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the killing of Mr Joseph Kyomo in the region
Mbeya. Police in Songwe Region are holding a 21-year- old man, who is a resident of Ileje District, accused of being hired to murder Joseph Kyomo. The man, whose name is yet to be revealed, was arrested on October 26.
It is alleged that he was hired by the wife of the deceased, who is also in police custody waiting to be taken to court to hear her charges.
Reports have said the young man was arrested on the next day on the Malawian side of the Tanzania and Malawi border, whereby his clothes still had some blood stains.
The reports had it that he was later sent to Tanzania and handed over to the police.
Law enforcers claimed that after preliminary interrogations, the youth confessed to have been involved in the killing of Mr Kyomo, but said he was hired by the man’s wife.
Mr Kyomo was allegedly killed on October 25, after he was beaten thoroughly and that this happened after his wife reportedly discovered that he had taken another wife without involving family members.
Songwe Regional Police Commander Mathias Nyange confirmed the arrest and said Mr Kyomo was attacked while sleeping as he was stabbed by a sharp object in the neck and back.
He said incidents of gender discrimination, including homicides in Songwe Region were rampant, and he has called all those facing abuse to report to the police.
Mr Nyange revealed that this was the second incident to be reported in the region over the last one month, although he did not state when they will be charged.
How Kyomo was killed
Reports had it that Mr Kyomo was killed after his wife found that he has secretly taken another wife.
Eye witnesses said they heard Mr Kyombo screaming for help at his house hours before he died, and when they rushed to help, they found him lying in front of his house. One of the witnesses and neighbour to Mr Kyomo, Mr Elifa Kalago, said they found Mr Kyomo lying on the floor while the children and wife were cleaning blood that had spread on the floor.
“We asked the wife and children on what had happened, but they did not give clear answers, as they were continuing to clean the floor,” he told The Citizen.
It was then that he informed other neighbours asking them for help to rush My Kyomo to hospital.
Cause of conflict
The brother of the deceased, Mr Zacharia Kyomo, said his brother and wife fought frequently on mostly accusations related to extra-marital affairs.
“Following the long conflict, we advised our brother to divorce his wife, something he declined,” he said.
He said the couple had separated before, but they reconciled an d the wife moved back on October 3, three weeks before he was killed.
“The women agreed to come back but she had her own hidden agenda,” he said.
He said following the long standing conflict, Mr Kyomo decided to marry another woman, of which dowry payment and wedding processes were ongoing in accordance with their traditions.
