admincounts of murder and attempted murder.
Lorraine Mtetwa (40) and her three daughters Colleta Gohodza (17), Shamiso (16) and Rutendo Mukarati (12), died at Harare Central Hospital due to burns sustained in the incident, while three other relatives Gamuchirai Gohodza (15), Ruvimbo (13) and Mellisa Mukarati (8) are still admitted to the hospital in intensive care. Bernard Mazhandu Mucheka was charged with seven counts of murder and attempted murder when he appeared before Mr Donald Ndirowei, who remanded him in custody to Wednesday next week. He was advised to apply for bail at the High Court due to the gravity of the offence.
Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleged that sometime in February, Lorraine decided to end their relationship, which started in 2011 after she realised that Mucheka was married to another woman.
Mucheka, it is alleged, could not stomach being dumped and told Lorraine that he would fix her.
Mr Chakurira said that on April 20 around midnight, Mucheka went to Mtetwa’s house in Epworth with five litres of petrol.
He broke one of the bedroom windows where Mtetwa was sleeping with some of her children, while the others were sleeping in another room, before sprinkling the petrol all over the room.
Mucheka allegedly set the house ablaze.
The family members were rushed to Harare Central Hospital where Mtetwa died on April 23, Colleta died the following day while Rutendo and Shamiso died on April 25.
Online Reporter