Police in Balaka have arrested an 89-year-old man on allegations that he has murdered his 63-year-old wife over marital problems.

Public relations officer for Balaka police Felix Misomali has identified the suspect as Steven Taulo.

Misomali said the incident occurred in the early hours of October 7 at Njopilo village, Traditional Authority Nsamala in the district.

According to Misomali the deceased Elita Taulo declared her interest to divorce the suspect who married her back in 1983.

“Elita made the decision to divorce her husband on grounds that she wanted to enjoy alone their son’s achievement once the son, who is a final year student at The Malawi Polytechnic, gets employed,” he said.

However, this did not go well with the suspect who is alleged to have hacked his wife four times on the head with an axe whilst she was asleep before handing himself to Balaka Police Station.

In an unconscious condition, the wife was rushed to Balaka District Hospital by well-wishers where she died whilst receiving treatment.

Postmortem conducted by health personnel at the hospital revealed that her death was due to severe head injuries.

Elita hailed from Njopilo Village, Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka district.

Meanwhile, Misomali has advised families in the district to seek lawful means for resolving marital problems.

“We are advising people with differences to seek for lawful means of resolving marital problems rather than taking laws in their hands,” Misomali said.