News / National
Man who set wife and kids ablaze over food nabbed
30 May 2014 at 11:28hrs | Views
POLICE have arrested a Mutare man who disappeared after burning his wife and two children by dousing them with a highly flammable liquid following a dispute over isitshwala.
Joseph Mudzemwe (36) of House Number 111555, Federation in Dangamvura was on the run after committing the offence, but neighbours revealed that the suspect who is facing attempted murder charges was visiting the house at night and making death threats.
Acting on tip-offs from the neighbours, police officers ambushed Mudzembwe and arrested him.
He is set to appear in court soon facing attempted murder charges
His three-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after a vicious fireball badly burnt her face, while his wife and a six-year-old-girl were also burnt on the hand and head respectively.
The incident left the community shell shocked as neighbours were at a loss for words to explain the gory event.
The family was only rescued after Mudzembwe, who had blocked the exit in an attempt to see to it that they were burnt in the flames, was attacked with stones and logs by neighbours.
Allegations are that Mudzembwe was coming from a beer hall when he committed the offence.
He was served with isitshwala by his wife, Precious Nyabara (26), when he arrived home. An argument broke out over isitshwala resulting in the accused threatening to burn the wife and the two children.
In the process, he took a plastic container which had methylated spirit.
He then stood on the doorway and sprayed the highly flammable liquid into the air towards his family. He then took a match stick and lit up the place.
As his family screamed for help with nowhere to go, he blocked the exit.
Neighbours heard screams and came to the rescue. Mudzembwe then bolted from the scene.
Joseph Mudzemwe (36) of House Number 111555, Federation in Dangamvura was on the run after committing the offence, but neighbours revealed that the suspect who is facing attempted murder charges was visiting the house at night and making death threats.
Acting on tip-offs from the neighbours, police officers ambushed Mudzembwe and arrested him.
He is set to appear in court soon facing attempted murder charges
His three-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after a vicious fireball badly burnt her face, while his wife and a six-year-old-girl were also burnt on the hand and head respectively.
The incident left the community shell shocked as neighbours were at a loss for words to explain the gory event.
Allegations are that Mudzembwe was coming from a beer hall when he committed the offence.
He was served with isitshwala by his wife, Precious Nyabara (26), when he arrived home. An argument broke out over isitshwala resulting in the accused threatening to burn the wife and the two children.
In the process, he took a plastic container which had methylated spirit.
He then stood on the doorway and sprayed the highly flammable liquid into the air towards his family. He then took a match stick and lit up the place.
As his family screamed for help with nowhere to go, he blocked the exit.
Neighbours heard screams and came to the rescue. Mudzembwe then bolted from the scene.
Source - Manicapost
