2 killed as ZimPF activist's home gutted by fire

KAROI - Two people, one of them a toddler, were reportedly burnt to death after a hut belonging to a Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) member caught fire in a suspected case of politically-motivated violence.

The incident occurred last Friday at Crotea Farm in Karoi.

ZimPF Mashonaland West spokesperson Dennis Kagonye yesterday said one of their members, Vimbai Charumbira, was nursing serious burns after surviving the inferno, which took the life of his wife and one-year-old child.

"A ZimPF activist's homestead was set alight at around 7pm, shortly after the family had retired to bed. We suspect these are the evil works of our political opponents. As a result of the attack, Charumbira's wife and child died in the blaze after the thatch collapsed on them," Kagonye said.

Charumbira had reportedly struggled to escape after finding the door suspiciously fastened from outside, and by the time he attempted to save his family, the roof had already caved in. He was rushed to Hillview Clinic, while the charred remains of his wife and child were conveyed to Karoi District Hospital mortuary.

Mashonaland West police confirmed the incident, but spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara could not be reached for comment.

Since the launch of ZimPF, the party has claimed attacks have been perpetrated against its members in a bid to instil fear.

A fortnight ago, Passmore Simba (31), ZimPF ward 14 political commissar in Mashonaland Central, had his homestead torched by assailants said to be known Zanu-PF functionaries from Magadzi 1 Village out to "fix" him for belonging to an opposition political outfit.

Simba said he had been threatened by Zanu-PF youths prior to the attack.