Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro [email protected]
HORROR struck Eastview, Harare, when a domestic dispute allegedly ended with a man stabbing his wife and setting fire to a cabin cottage where his two young children were asleep, killing them in an inferno that left their bodies burnt beyond recognition.The incident occurred in Eastview Phase 10 during the early hours of Sunday.
The two children, identified as Aldine Muyengwa, 5, and Ropafadzo Muyengwa, 2, died after the cabin cottage was engulfed in flames.
Their father, Gift Muyengwa, 24, was later found outside the burning structure with severe injuries.
His wife, Tsitsi Zuze, (22), survived the attack and is receiving treatment in hospital.
According to Tsitsi’s father, Mr Farai Zuze, 46, the family was asleep when the incident occurred.
“Tsitsi said she woke up being stabbed on the head and neck by her husband,” said Mr Zuze.
“She wrestled with him and fled, jumping into the neighbour’s yard naked. Her neighbour Loice Ndhlalambi gave her a cloth to wrap herself.
“After wrapping herself, she ran to my house and informed us about the incident. Gift stabbed the kids to death before turning to Tsitsi.
“Upon arriving at their house, we discovered that their one-roomed cabin cottage was burning.”
A neighbour, Ms Pamela Mukaro, said she heard Tsitsi screaming for help but did not immediately go to the scene.
Police who attended the scene found the children’s bodies burnt beyond recognition.
A kitchen knife, a hoe without a handle and a hammer were recovered from the scene.
Investigators also observed a trail of blood leading from the cabin cottage to a nearby vegetable garden, where Gift was found with injuries.
The bodies of the two children were taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for post-mortem examinations.
Gift and Tsitsi were also taken to the same hospital for treatment.
In a statement yesterday evening, Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a case of murder in which two infants died after the room in which they were sleeping was allegedly set on fire by their father following a domestic dispute with his wife in Eastview Phase 10, Harare,” said Comm Nyathi.
“Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that the suspect allegedly attacked his wife with a knife while the victims were asleep. The wife managed to escape and sought help from neighbours before reporting the incident.
“Upon her return, she found the cabin cottage engulfed in flames and the bodies of the two children burnt beyond recognition.
The suspect was subsequently found outside the burning cabin with injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment under police guard.”
Comm Nyathi encouraged people to resolve domestic disputes peacefully and seek assistance from relatives, community leaders, counsellors or the police “before conflicts escalate into tragic loss of life”.
Investigations into the matter are continuing.
