Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A 44-YEAR-OLD Sakubva woman, Prisca Masvodza, allegedly set her rented room on fire, reportedly in retaliation for her husband’s alleged abusiveness.
Neighbours claim that Masvodza, who was allegedly intoxicated, reacted aggressively to their attempts to extinguish the flames, shouting and insisting that the fire was “good riddance to bad rubbish”.
The incident, which happened last week, ignited chaos, affecting four families, as some rowdy residents resorted to looting household furniture from the affected rooms.
Four families shared the property.
The Weekender can reveal that despite the urgent need for help, residents allegedly took advantage of the situation, stealing household furniture from the victims.
Reports say the fire started after Masvodza, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, lit a candle near her gas stove and left the room. Her husband, Phineas Munyika was away.
The inferno destroyed Masvodza’s room, and damaged three others nearby. While other victims were able to salvage their belongings, Masvodza’s room was reduced to a shell, with no property recovered.
Victims said they lost most of their furniture to looters who pretended to be Good Samaritans.
Masvodza was nowhere to be found, with witnesses reporting that she was last seen the previous night.
Munyika was visibly distraught as he combed the debris of his property, saying he was in Mabiya area collecting their three children for the holiday when the fire broke out.
“After receiving the call, I rushed here and found out that everything had been destroyed. In our room, we had a bed, kitchen unit, wardrobe, sofas, clothes, and US$400. Unfortunately, nothing was recovered, and we are appealing for help from anyone who can assist us,” he said.
Munyika said he had not seen or spoken to his wife since Wednesday morning.
“I just heard she is at her uncle’s house, afraid to return home now that she has sobered up. Her phone was burnt in the house, so all I can do is wait for her to contact me,” he said, denying allegations of marital problems being the reason for Masvodza’s behaviour after the fire.
Their neighbour, Chipo Kampira said when the fire started, Masvodza was drunk.
“The smoke choked my grandchild, and that is when I realised that a fire had started in my neighbour’s room. I informed Masvodza that her house was on fire, and she said “good one”, claiming she had longed for this to happen as pay back to her “abusive” husband. We moved furniture from nearby rooms, but nothing from Masvodza’s room was retrieved, except the two gas tanks,” she said.
Kampira said the fire likely started after Masvodza returned to her room and switched on the gas stove while a nearby candle was still lit.
“We went to her room and switched off the gas stove because she was drunk and had wandered into my house. However, she went back and switched it on, saying she wanted to prepare food. We had to switch it off again after the fire started, but we suspect a curtain caught fire from a nearby candle, causing the blaze,” she said, describing the couple as volatile and frequently fighting.
“Whenever she got drunk, she would start a fight with her husband, who would remain quiet. He is a soft-spoken man, as you have probably gathered from how he narrated the incident and downplayed their problems. On several occasions, he would sleep in his car due to her violent nature,” she added.
Another neighbour, Phillipa Mutare said Masvodza had threatened further attacks, before attempting to take her own life.
“While everyone was trying to put out the fire and salvage the furniture, she stood outside shouting that this was what she wanted, seemingly seeking revenge on her husband. She tried to commit suicide with a rope, but was stopped by others. Everyone later went to the police, but she did not return home,” said Mutare.
Mutare said Masvodza’s reckless drinking started after rumours of her husband’s infidelity.
“She claimed he was cheating on her with an 18-year-old girl — Form Six student, and that he had taken her as a second wife. That is when her drinking worsened.
We don’t know if they are still together with the teenager,” she said.
At the scene, socialite, Cecilia Gambe sparked drama by hitting Munyika on the back with a broom, prompting ululation from the crowd.
In an interview, she explained that she believed Munyika was under a love spell, oblivious to his wife’s behaviour.
“According to Shona tradition, if someone is under a love spell, we hit them with a broom or put their head in a basket. The shock is meant to release them from the spell, which is what we were trying to achieve,” she said.
Online Reporter