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Ngoni Dapira
RESIDENTS of Mutare’s Chikanga high-density suburb were left shell-shocked after a local businessman burnt himself inside his car in an apparent suicidal case in the wee hours of Monday morning.
The relatively quiet suburb was awakened by a deafening blast as the 62-year-old businessman, Joshua Movha Maturure, set alight his Nissan Sunny sedan.
Maturure — a church elder at the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Chikanga Phase Two Church — owned a popular tuckshop, Sunshine General Dealer, in Phase One near the ZNA 3 Infantry Brigade barracks.
Although police are still investigating the matter, people believe it was suicide.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri said police were still investigating the matter.
“So far, we just know that the car explosion happened around 2am on Monday. Details leading to the explosion are still being investigated,” said Insp Chishiri.
However, it is widely believed that the businessman was facing serious financial problems which could have triggered the unfortunate incident.
Insp Chishiri said the deceased had on Monday called his young brother Jephias from Harare to come and assist him to work out his problems.
“Jephias and his wife arrived in Mutare by 8pm. They discussed the issues affecting the deceased and thereafter retired to bed. Joshua, however, woke up around 1am on Monday morning and told his wife he wanted to go to their tuckshop.
“The wife allowed him to leave but was suspicious and later called him a few minutes later. They followed Joshua to BP Fuel Service Station along the Mutare-Harare road where he had gone to buy five litres of petrol,” said Insp Chishiri.
Jephias and Susan arrived at BP Fuel Service Station while he was about to leave and the deceased instructed them to drive in front of him.
They used the Magamba Road and in a flash Jephias saw the car go up in flames in his rear-view mirror near the Manicaland Agricultural and Show Society Showground entrance.
Insp Chishiri said Jephias tried to rescue his brother but the flames were too intense. He got burnt on his right arm in the process. The Fire Brigade came after some minutes to extinguish the fire, but Maturure was already burnt beyond recognition.
By the time The Weekender arrived at the scene scores of people milled around the area.
Some peple speculated the deceased was having recurrent fights with his wife about their childless marriage, which was now threatening to tear them apart.
However, the family is insisting that the fire was caused by a fault on the vehicle.
Online Reporter