Mysterious fires haunt polygamista��s widows

Whinsley Masara .
THREE widows from Bubi District say they have not slept in two months after mysterious fires burnt down five huts at their homestead.

The haggard looking trio said the fires had scared away their relatives and children, who have stopped visiting them.

Esah, Betina and Emelia Ndlovu said the fires started after their husband, Khulekani Ndlovu, died recently.

B-Metro caught up with the women at Paradise Village 1, in Inyathi, under Chief Mtshane.

They said they were scared and exhausted from lack of sleep.

Esah appealed to anyone who could put an end to the fires to assist the trio.

a�?We are terribly scared. We have nowhere else to go.A� The fires just start out of the blue. They have been so many Ia��ve lost count,a�? said Esah, who looked worn out.

a�?We are failing to understand where it is all coming from. We suspect goblins or some supernatural powers are at work. Five huts have been burnt down in our homestead.a�?

a�?We are appealing to anyone who could have been offended by any one of us and is causing these scary incidents as revenge, to please come forward and let us know so that we make a plan to appease,a�? she said.

a�?Ia��ve only snatched moments of sleep in the past months. I always jerk out of my sleep fearing the house will burn down. I was in one of the huts that burned down and I narrowly escaped death.a�?

Emelia said two of the huts that were reduced to ashes belonged to her son who is based in South Africa.

a�?Because of these scary incidents, our family is falling apart. Our children have left home and those who are outside the country are no longer keen to visit home. Not only are we losing family but even friends are avoiding us. People are talking and looking at us with suspicious eyes, and we are slowly becoming outcasts.

a�?When our husband was alive we never experienced such things and wea��re wondering what the cause could be. We have lost property worth a couple of thousands of dollars now. We actually fear losing our lives soon,a�? said Emelia.

Betina said they had engaged their village head and councillor to assist them to end the terror.

Ward 1 Councillor, Robert Lunga said: a�?The family has requested us to engage traditional healers to end their suffering. They said they fear for their lives as well as those of neighbours.a�?

The councillor said the frequency with which the strange fires were occurring was a threat to the family and neighbours.

Clr Lunga said there was a similar incident at one of the schools in his area last year and they engaged traditional healers who cleansed the school.

a�?Certainly some action needs to be taken because a fire cannot just start from nowhere, something is causing them and it has to be put to an end. The women are slowly losing their minds and are appealing for help.a�?

a�?With the village head, Benson Ndlovu, we have notified the District Administrator and are working on the matter,a�? said Clr Lunga.