He is represented by lawyer, Reginald Chidawanyika Chiteta. He appeared before magistrate Sithembiso Ncube on Thursday but pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was denied bail and remanded in custody to April 23.
In an act of solidarity, women organisations and civic society in the city staged a demonstration against the businessman on Friday demanding justice to take its course. The women marched in Mtapa where the deceased lived with her husband.
Women Coalition of Zimbabwe Midlands Chapter Secretary, Sibusisiwe Sanya, said: “The demonstration was also targeted at all perpetrators of domestic violence. It’s sad that the cases continue to rise despite all the campaigns carried out to encourage peaceful settlement of disputes”.
Vimbai Nhutsve-Musengi, Central Regional Coordinator for the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, said the alleged murder was heinous and women who felt discomforted by it had chosen to parade.
The court heard that Chiteta on April 3 had gone to bed at around 1.30am in the couple’s home.
When Phiri joined him at about 3.30am, Chiteta allegedly strangled her before making a false report of sudden death at ZRP Mtapa police station.
A postmortem report indicated that the death was a result of dislocation of the cervical spine and excessive movement of the neck, which implied strangling.
Post published in: News