adminInnocent Ruwende, Harare Bureau
Two people died while four others are battling for life at a Harare hospital after they were seriously burnt in a petrol and cooking gas explosion in Overspill, Epworth on Christmas day.
What had promised to be a funfilled Christmas commemoration for two families, ended tragically as the inferno also engulfed three cars and destroyed property worth thousands of dollars.
On the fateful day, a petrol dealer Claude Nyamandu popularly known as “DeMbare” and his younger brother’s family from Waterfalls, had gathered to celebrate Christmas together.
His sibling was braaing outside the house while their wives were cooking using gas stoves in the house.
Mr Nyamandu allegedly sought the help of his neighbours’ son Given Chinyamukwanguke (5) to hold a funnel while he poured petrol into a generator so that he could provide entertainment for a promising Christmas celebration.
It is alleged that as he poured the fuel, suddenly the whole place was engulfed by a huge ball of fire and the adults rushed into a bedroom and locked themselves up.
However, the neighbours’ son was not as lucky as he was engulfed by the fire together with the five-year-old daughter of Nyamandu’s.
It is alleged that although neighbours finally put out the fire, the presence of the fuel in Nyamandu’s premises made fighting the fire difficult.
It is suspected that the fuel caused the fire and the gas which was being used for cooking worsened the situation.
Funeral proceedings were underway yesterday at the Chinyamukwanguke homestead in Epworth.
Family spokesperson Mr Christopher Mujeyi, said they took the incident as an accident.
“It is normal for children to play next-door. We took the whole incident as an accident. However, we urge people who deal with flammable substances to find suitable premises away from houses to avoid such incidents.
“We also need a service station in Epworth because some of these things are being caused by the need for fuel. We do not have electricity here so a number of people use generators,” he said.
Although police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, could not be reached for a comment yesterday, police officers close to the matter confirmed the development.
Online Reporter