adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD watched in horror as his one-year-old sibling was consumed by an inferno that gutted their house in Gweru while their parents had gone to relieve themselves in a nearby bush. Provincial magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa yesterday said it could not be ascertained what caused the fire and as a result there was no need for an inquest following the June 31 incident.
The horrific incident occurred at house number 3120 in Woodlands Park at around 1PM.
The late Tanyaradzwa Chityeza was left with her four-year-old brother Tinevimbo Matyeza in the house while their father and mother had gone to relieve themselves in a bush.
In a statement to the police, the infant’s mother, Mrs Maybe Kurirepo (27), said she left the house with her husband Mr Takesure Mazaiwana at around 1PM to relieve themselves. She said they left the deceased with her four-year-old brother in the house eating.
Mrs Kurirepo said they locked the bedroom door but left the main entrance door open.
She said a window at the house does not have window panes and is however covered with plastic papers.
“At around 2:30PM, I returned home with my husband. When we were about to reach home, I met Diana whom we stay with at the house and she told me that my daughter had died after the house caught fire. When I reached home, I saw people gathered outside the house and the fire had already been put out and some property was outside the yard,” said Mrs Kurirepo.
“I got inside the house and went straight to my room. I stood at the door and noticed that some of my property had been burnt to ashes and my daughter was covered with a cloth lying dead on the bed.”
Mrs Kurirepo said the deceased’s brother said the fire started from the wardrobe, but did not know the cause of fire.
Provincial magistrate Msipa closed the matter after assessing the sudden death docket.
Online Reporter