Moffat Mungazi
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A SHOCKING incident has left the Chimanimani community reeling after a drunken woman allegedly set fire to her family’s kitchen hut, resulting in the death of her 72-year-old mother.
The deceased, Norah Mukonya, who was crippled due to a stroke, was unable to escape the burning hut and suffered severe burns.
Her husband, John Mukonya, managed to escape unharmed.
Police have since arrested Sekai Mukonya, their daughter, and charged her with murder.
Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrest, adding that the motive behind the arson attack remains unclear.
However, village sources claim that Sekai had a long-standing dispute with her parents, whom she blamed for bringing misfortune into her life.
“On July 3 2025 around 8pm Sekai Mukonya (44) came home from a beer drink while drunk. She saw her mother seated in the kitchen hut with her father John Mukonya (79). For no apparent reason, the accused said she wanted to set the kitchen hut on fire. She took a burning wood from the fire place, went out and lit the hut’s thatched roof from outside.
“Her father managed to escape, but the mother, who was crippled with stroke failed to escape. The father called his son Boniface (44) for assistance, but the hut was already gutted with fire. Norah was burnt to death. The matter was reported to police ZRP Cashel Valley.
“Police attended the scene and arrested the accused person. The deceased’s body was conveyed to Mutambara Mission Hospital for post mortem. Investigations are still ongoing,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Online Reporter