News / Regional
Three siblings burnt to death in ritual fire
07 Aug 2013 at 04:27hrs | Views
POLICE in Gokwe are investigating a case in which three children were burnt beyond recognition when the blankets they were sleeping in caught fire from a burning tyre lit in their bedroom hut for suspected ritual purposes.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday said the incident occurred on Sunday night in Makunda Village under Chief Chireya.
"On the fateful day, the three victims' mother, Ms Loveness Mupamombe (37) was sleeping in the same bedroom hut with them when she suddenly woke up and complained of being haunted by some evil spirits.
She then lit a tyre and left it burning in an attempt to scare away the alleged evil spirits," said Insp Mahoko.
He said at around 1am during the same night, Ms Mupamombe woke up her eldest child, Tafadzwa Sibanda (15) who was in the same bedroom hut and asked him to escort her to a local prophet.
"Ms Mupamombe then locked the bedroom hut from outside leaving her three children, two boys, Takudzwa (10), Tafara (2) and a girl, Ruvarashe (5) sleeping inside," he said.
Insp Mahoko said one of the blankets caught fire from the burning tyre and later the hut caught fire.
"The three siblings failed to escape and were burnt beyond recognition.
"The matter was later reported to the police who attended to the scene," he said.
Insp Mahoko said the three sibling's bodies were taken to Gokwe District Hospital mortuary.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday said the incident occurred on Sunday night in Makunda Village under Chief Chireya.
"On the fateful day, the three victims' mother, Ms Loveness Mupamombe (37) was sleeping in the same bedroom hut with them when she suddenly woke up and complained of being haunted by some evil spirits.
She then lit a tyre and left it burning in an attempt to scare away the alleged evil spirits," said Insp Mahoko.
He said at around 1am during the same night, Ms Mupamombe woke up her eldest child, Tafadzwa Sibanda (15) who was in the same bedroom hut and asked him to escort her to a local prophet.
"Ms Mupamombe then locked the bedroom hut from outside leaving her three children, two boys, Takudzwa (10), Tafara (2) and a girl, Ruvarashe (5) sleeping inside," he said.
Insp Mahoko said one of the blankets caught fire from the burning tyre and later the hut caught fire.
"The three siblings failed to escape and were burnt beyond recognition.
"The matter was later reported to the police who attended to the scene," he said.
Insp Mahoko said the three sibling's bodies were taken to Gokwe District Hospital mortuary.
Source - chronicle
