Police forensic scene in Harare, Zimbabwe, following a fatal domestic violence incident involving a kitchen knife weapon.

A festive celebration turned into a gruesome tragedy in Zimbabwe as a man was allegedly stabbed to death by his wife in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The incident, which occurred in the Glen Norah suburb of Harare, has left the local community in shock. The deceased, identified as Levy Mautsa, reportedly succumbed to multiple stab wounds following a domestic dispute that spiraled out of control.

According to the Harare provincial police spokesperson, Luckmore Chakanza, the fatal altercation began late on Christmas Eve. The tension reportedly started when Mautsa confronted his wife because dinner was not ready on time.

What began as a verbal disagreement quickly turned physical. Reports indicate that Mautsa allegedly assaulted his wife with his bare hands and damaged her mobile phone during the heat of the argument.

The noise from the struggle eventually spilled out of the couple's room, prompting a neighbor, Blessing Chengeti, to intervene around midnight. While the neighbor’s mediation appeared to calm the situation temporarily, the peace did not last.

Police reports suggest that after the couple returned indoors, the violence escalated further. Hours later, the wife allegedly contacted a colleague via phone, confessing that she had attacked her husband. 

During the call, she reportedly admitted to stabbing Mautsa three times with a kitchen knife and urged the workmate to check on him before she fled the scene.

When law enforcement arrived at the residence, they discovered Mautsa’s lifeless body. He had sustained deep wounds to his neck, back, and left shoulder. Officers recovered a kitchen knife, believed to be the murder weapon, from the garden outside the house.

"We are currently trailing the suspect who remains at large," the police spokesperson stated. "We appeal to any member of the public with information regarding her whereabouts to come forward."

Mautsa’s remains have been moved to the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.

This tragic event highlights the rising concerns over domestic violence during the holiday season, a period often marked by heightened emotions and social pressures across many African households.