adminLoveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter
A BULAWAYO magistrate was hospitalised on Monday after suffering severe burns, he says as a result of an accident while he was trying to start a fire with petrol.
Provincial magistrate Victor Mpofu dismissed speculation that the incident could have been a result of domestic violence.
“It was on Monday evening and while starting a fire using petrol, some of the petrol droplets spilled on my leg. Suddenly a strong wind blew, my leg caught fire and my wife rushed me to the hospital at around 10PM leading to my admission at Mater Dei Hospital,” Mpofu said.
The magistrate, who was still hospitalised yesterday, said he decided to use petrol because the firewood had become damp following a drizzle.
He strongly refuted speculation that he was scalded by his wife with boiling cooking oil after a marital dispute allegedly sparked by a rumoured romance with a court clerk, Vanessa Marufu.
Mpofu said he had never had an affair with Marufu, whom he said was obsessed with him.
“She goes around telling people and making them believe that we have a serious affair. She’s just obsessed with me. Last year, l called her to my office and questioned her on why she was making false claims about us having an affair and she couldn’t answer me,” added Mpofu.
Marufu denied having an affair with Mpofu, insisting it was a rumour peddled by malicious people.
The magistrate’s wife, Priscilla, added: “All these are lies. We didn’t fight with my husband and l don’t know where all this is coming from. We heard the rumours from friends and we were shocked too.”
Online Reporter