Man kills wife and child & shoots himself: Malawi Police says its an ‘appalling’ tragedy in Zingwangwa

Malawi Police has confirmed that a man in shanty township of Zingwangwa in the commercial city of Blantyre on Monday shot his wife dead, step-child before turning the gun on himself following a family row.

Police spokesperson for Blantyre, Elizabeth Divala, identified the man as Charles Chipanda, 52 who killed his wife Grace Kabula Chipanda, 44, who was working as a stores clerk at Soche Anglican Church and stepson 14-year-old Gift Chipanda before killing himself.

She confirmed recovering three bodies from the house after being alerted by people from the neighbourhood.

The child was a pupil at St. Pius Primary School in Blantyre.

Divala said the bodies of the three were immediately taken by police to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) for post-mortem.

Police spokesperson said a pistol and a suicide note signed by both the man and the woman was found near the bodies.

She said police strongly believe the woman was forced to sign the suicide note, alleging that she was cheating on her husband.

She said: “According to the letter, the wife confessed that she was having extra-marital affairs and signed under her confession whereas the man wrote that his wife was having extra-marital affairs and that she was patronising beer halls while he was conducting business before endorsing his own signature as well.”

“It is an appalling tragedy,” said Divala.

The killings stunned the local community, where the couple were known as a ‘normal and happy’ pair.

“I can’t believe this has happened. This is absolutely unbelievable. They were a normal family,” said a neighbour to Nyasa Times.

Chipanda came from Nanumba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chowe in Mangochi whereas the wife came from Zomba, exact particulars not available, according to police.