Boy (7) sets family home ablaze

A seven-year-old boy from Bulawayo's Pumula East suburb on Tuesday set ablaze his home while playing with matches.

It is believed that the boy got hold of the matches box without anyone noticing him.

He hid it under the bed, burnt some papers and the fire set alight the bed and spread to the whole house.

Property worth thousands of dollars, which included a television set, radio, beds, and lounge suite, was destroyed.

The boy's father, Mr Victor Mutero said the incident occurred at about I.20 pm on Tuesday while he and his wife were at work.

"My cousin had been burning litter outside when she left a box of matches and my son got hold of it.

"At first he was seen and warned against using the matches but he went and hid under our bed and started playing with the matches, "said Mr Mutero.

"He burnt some papers under the bed and the mattress caught fire. He tried to stop the fire but failed and when my cousin noticed it was already too late."

Mr Peterson said the fire brigade attended the scene but by the time the crew got to the scene the property had already been destroyed.

"Members of the public must keep out of reach matches and lit candles from children and desist from leaving heaters switched on this winter season," he said.