A 24-year-old woman has been murdered in a brutal axe attack in Zakeyo Village of Chasefu District after a target miscalculation by her jealous ex-husband who lay in wait as she was intimate with her new boyfriend.
Bafiske Nkhata was struck in the head and killed instantly on the evening of May 29, 2026, in what police describe as a botched ambush motivated by rage over her new relationship.
The fatal blow, delivered with a borrowed axe, was actually intended for her current partner but missed its target when the boyfriend ducked.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba has confirmed to Diamond News that the incident unfolded around 22:00 hours on Friday, May 29, 2026 when the deceased was visited by her boyfriend, Thomas Phiri, 33, of Langwani Village.
Unbeknown to the couple, Nkhata’s ex-husband, Moses Chirwa, 24, was already in the area and began secretly tracking their movements.
When Phiri decided to leave later, his girlfriend Bafiske Nkhata accompanied him. The pair then diverted into nearby bush where they engaged in sexual intercourse.
It was at this moment that Chirwa, who had been observing them from hiding, retrieved an axe he had borrowed from a friend in the village and charged at the unsuspecting couple.
Mr. Chirwa swung the axe at Mr. Phiri, who was on top of his ex-wife at the time.
Mr. Phiri managed to duck, causing the weapon to bypass him entirely and strike Nkhata on the head. She died at the scene.
In the chaos that followed, both men fled in different directions.
Mr. Phiri ran to his home in Langwani Village while Chirwa hid the murder weapon in nearby shrubs before escaping to his residence in Matemanga Village.
The victim’s body was discovered the following morning around 08:00 hours by her uncle, Steven Zimba, 37, who reported the matter to Chasefu Police Post at approximately 10:00 hours.
Police officers who visited the scene suspected foul play upon inspecting the body and surroundings.
Nkhata’s remains were transported to Chasefu Mini Hospital, where they have been deposited in the mortuary pending postmortem examination results.
A manhunt launched later on May 30 led Phiri to voluntarily surrender himself to police.
Mr. Chirwa, however, attempted to evade justice by fleeing to Keyala Village near the Malawi border.
He was eventually apprehended by officers and brought to Chasefu Police Station, where interrogations of both men revealed the full sequence of events.
Moses Chirwa has been detained at Chasefu Police Station as Investigations are ongoing.
By Samuel Khwawe
