By Staff Reporter
ZAKA – A 96-year-old Zaka granny died at Masvingo Provincial Hospital recently from burns sustained after the house she was sharing with her 68-year-old daughter was set ablaze by a male relative who accused the two of witchcraft.
Police sources said the suspect was arrested after the community apprehended and handed him over to the police.
Circumstances are that on June 6, the accused Assel Mukurungi from Maoneke Village under Chief Nyakunhuwa area went to Laiza Mukawu’s homestead around 10pm and found her asleep with the now deceased.
The accused is Mukawu’s nephew.
He asked Mukawu to open the door and threatened to break in accusing the two of witchcraft of which he went on to force open the door after the two refused to open.
He got into the house holding a small axe and threatened to kill both before setting property including a bed, fridge, wardrobe, a solar battery and some clothes on fire.
He struck Mukawu three times on the buttocks and once on the left arm with the axe handle as the fire spread inside the house, but Mukawu managed to escape calling for help from neighbors.
One villager came to their rescue but the accused managed to escaped and they managed to rescue Mapendere who had failed to escape from the raging fire, getting severely burnt in the process.
The villagers tracked down the accused whom they apprehended and handed over to the police while his two victims were rushed to hospital and were transferred to Masvingo where Mapendere later died.
