adminSukulwenkosi Dube- Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A 55-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulilima District was burnt to death after her bedroom hut caught fire while she was asleep.
Dombodema councillor Mr Benjamin Nleya confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday night at Male Village.
He said Ms Lumbidzani Ncube was alone at her homestead when the incident occurred.
Mr Nleya said by the time neighbours reached her homestead in a bid to save her, it was already too late.
“There is an incident of an elderly woman from a village in my ward who was burnt to death. Villagers from neighbouring homesteads noticed a fire from her homestead at around 10PM.
“When they reached the homestead the roof of her hut had already collapsed to the ground and she had been burnt beyond recognition. All the property that was in the hut was also destroyed,” he said.
Mr Nleya said Ncube’s relatives said they last saw her around 8PM when she was on her way to her homestead where she was staying alone. He said villagers suspected that a candle that was left burning could have started the fire.
“Ncube had spent her Monday afternoon at a meeting and then she passed through a relative’s homestead in the same village for a courtesy call.
She parted with them around 8PM and proceeded to her homestead.
“Villagers are shocked by this incident and all they can do is speculate but no one can really confirm what transpired. We assume that it was an accident,” Mr Nleya said adding that the nearest home from Ncube’s homestead was about a kilometre away.
He said this explained why villagers were unable to come to her aid on time.
@DubeMatutu.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter