Chronicle EditorWalter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
IN a freak incident, a two-year-old Masvingo girl burnt herself to death while playing near a fire with her friends.
Adel Mugwara of Mucheke Suburb went up in flames when her dress came into contact with the fire during a play-house game on Sunday.
She was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where she breathed her last on Monday morning.
Her distraught father, Mr Aluis Mugwara, said the family was failing to come to terms with the tragedy.
“On Sunday at around 2PM, my daughter was playing with other children outside the house after the family had just returned from church. She was playing near a fireplace with her friends from next door where our maid had left some burning logs,” said Mr Mugwara.
He said Adel allegedly took the lid of a peanut butter bottle. She put mud and placed it on fire but the plastic lid unfortunately overheated,” said Mr Mugwara.
“She reached for the lid which was already in flames and it set fire to her dress. She sustained serious burns on her abdomen,” Mr Mugwara said.
He said the other children alerted the maid.
“When the maid came out, she managed to put out the fire but my daughter was already badly burnt.
“I was alerted and I rushed her to Masvingo General Hospital where she was admitted but unfortunately she died yesterday morning at around 7 AM.”
He said the body was taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
“We have since collected the body from the mortuary and we are burying her tomorrow at Brooklyn Farm along Zimuto Road,” said Mr Mugwara.
Cases of children succumbing to sudden death are on the increase in Masvingo. Last week, an eight year-old Rhodene suburb boy doing Grade Four at Victoria Junior accidentally tied himself with a washing line and suffocated while playing at the family house.
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