By Gloria Drealomalicha
A 33-year-old married accountant standing trial for the alleged murder of his 25-year-old girlfriend, Rhoda Munkombwe, has admitted in court that he assaulted her with an iron bar after discovering sexually explicit messages on her mobile phone.
Edward Mwanamuchele made the admission while testifying before the Chipata High Court on Wednesday, saying he lost his temper after reading conversations he believed were between Rhoda and other men.
According to his testimony, he found three separate exchanges on her phone involving contacts allegedly saved under female names. One of the conversations included intimate messages in which Rhoda allegedly expressed a desire to meet one of the men, while another suggested she had received financial support from someone else. A third conversation reportedly contained plans to meet a man at a lodge.
Mwanamuchele told the court that when he confronted Rhoda about the messages, she admitted the men were helping her financially and said they made her feel valued. He said the revelation left him overwhelmed with anger.
“I became furious,” he told the court, explaining that he picked up an iron bar and struck her on the legs. He claimed Rhoda raised her hands in an attempt to shield herself and that he accidentally hit her on the head.
The defendant maintained that he never intended to kill her, describing Rhoda as someone he loved and with whom he had been in a relationship for about 18 months.
He also told the court that they had been drinking high-proof whisky while preparing a meal together before the incident unfolded.
According to police, the incident occurred in August 2025 at Mwanamuchele’s residence in the Kanjala area of Chipata. Investigators alleged that before Rhoda’s visit, he had asked his wife to leave the house following a disagreement over the alleged misuse of rent money.
Authorities said the victim’s body was later discovered by the landlord, who alerted the police. Officers found Rhoda with severe head injuries, cuts to her legs and multiple bruises.
Mwanamuchele was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
The case has been adjourned as proceedings continue before Justice Charles Kafunda.
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