adminSimbarashe Mandaza (19) and Johannes Besa (25) on Wednesday appeared in court charged with attempted murder.
They pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr William Bhila, who remanded them in custody to February 28 for trial.
Mr Bhila advised the duo to apply for bail at the High Court due to the gravity of the allegations.
Prosecutor Mr Dumisani Mthombeni, however, advised the court on his intention to amend the charge sheet to include an alternative charge of malicious damage to property.
Outlining the State’s case, Mr Mthombeni alleges that on February 6 at around 1pm, Memory Kabu was sitting outside a hut when Mandaza and Besa approached the homestead with the intention of passing through it.
It is alleged the girl told the men that there was no thoroughfare but the two ignored her.
At around 5pm that same day, the prosecution says, Mandaza and Besa returned to the homestead and found the girl preparing supper inside a hut.
It is the State’s case that they locked the hut from the outside and set the thatched roof alight.
The girl screamed for help but no one came to her rescue but she managed to squeeze through a small window and saw Mandaza and Besa running towards a maize field, the prosecution alleges.
Property worth US$650 was destroyed in the fire.
A police report was made leading to the duo’s arrest. – CR.
Online Reporter