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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A 92-YEAR-OLD granny survived a fire that razed a house in which she was sleeping while the rest of her family had gone for an all-night prayer.
Villagers pulled Nikiwe Sibanda of Sipepa under Chief Mathuphula in Tsholotsho from a burning bedroom hut on Sunday at around 1AM.
Sibanda had passed out in her sleep due to suspected smoke inhalation.
The fire, whose origins are unknown, burnt down four huts and a three roomed house at the homestead.
Property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed.
Sibanda’s grandson Zonke Sibindi said the family left her sleeping when they went to church, less than a kilometre from the homestead, at 8PM.
“My wife and I had gone for an all-night prayer and had planned to return later on Sunday. Our grandmother had remained home with our herd boy.
“One of our neighbours noticed a huge ball of flames had engulfed the homestead. We thank God the neighbour was able to raise the alarm in time to save my grandmother,” said Sibindi, who is a retired National Railways of Zimbabwe worker.
He said it was tragic that his hard work at NRZ had gone up in smoke. “I’ve lost everything. We only remained with about two buckets of maize that were in the granary and the clothes we’re wearing,” said Sibindi.
He said the family had no clue about what started the fire. “As we were deeply engrossed in prayer, we were disturbed by screams as people shouted there was a fire. Everyone rushed outside only for me to realise it was my home. Four huts and a big house with a number of rooms were reduced to ashes. My granny is still shaken, otherwise she is fine,” he said, adding well-wishers could contact the family on 0785001500 and 0717264486.
derick.khumalo