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AN 85-year-old man from Karoi locked his 75-year-old wife in a bedroom hut before setting it ablaze after finding out that she was having an illicit affair with their neighbour.
Alfred Samalani, of Protea village in Karoi allegedly set the hut on fire after he caught his wife red handed with Geshom Phiri who is their neighbour.
Phiri managed to flee while Samalania��s wife Rugare Kashamise together with their seven-year-old niece, Faith Samalani, perished in the inferno.
Rugare was immediately arrested following the gruesome incident and he is expected to appear in court soon.
Mary Kashamise, the sister to the deceased, said her brother -in- law and her sister were having problems.
a�?It is true that my sister was having an affair with Phiri, a widower who happens to be her neighbour. I once warned her about it but she told me that she fell out of love with her husband and was in love with Phiri,a�? said Kashamise.
a�?At some point we had a family meeting as their relationship was getting out of hand but that too did not help.
Relatives advised her to respect her husband but their advice fell on deaf ears,a�? said Kashamise.
a�?I am very saddened by my sistera��s death. Yes, she was wrong to have an illicit affair but she did not deserve to die in such a cruel manner. Samalani had no right to kill her, he should have left her. Even our niece died painfully for something she didna��t even know about,a�? added Kashamise.
Mashonaland East police spokesperson Inspector Mabweazara could not comment on the matter as he said that it had not got to his attention.
derick.khumalo