Man burns family huts in protest over ill treatment by his father

A 29-year-old man from Bulilima District set four of his family's huts on fire in protest over ill treatment he was receiving from his father.

Wellington Siziba set his parents' home in Bezu area on fire during their absence and fled the scene. He told the court that the incident was payback for the ill treatment he was getting from his father.

Siziba was yesterday convicted on his own plea of guilty to malicious damage to property by Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvetsa.

He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment of which six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within the period commit an offence of the same nature.

Prosecuting, Mr Paul Mpofu said Siziba, who has his own homestead in the same area, arrived at his parents' home while his mother was in the fields.

"On 18 November around 10am Siziba took advantage of the absence of his mother and proceeded to his parents' homestead. While there he set four huts on fire and escaped unnoticed.

"While at her fields which are a kilometre away from her homestead his mother realised that her home was on fire. She rushed back and tried to put out the fire with the help of other villagers but to no avail," said the prosecutor.

Property worth more than $3 805 was destroyed in the fire.

The complainant observed some footprints in the yard, which led them to Siziba's homestead.

He admitted to have committed the offence after being confronted by villagers.

The complainant, Belinah Siziba (51) told the court that Siziba and his father were constantly fighting as he accused him of being irresponsible.

"When I got home I found all my four huts which comprised two bedrooms, one kitchen and a granary all on fire. We could not stop the fire or recover any property and I had to watch in despair as my home was burnt to ashes. I confronted my son and he admitted to have burnt down the home he grew up in.

"My husband was constantly accusing my son of being irresponsible and he was always harsh on him. This caused a lot of tension between them and they never really saw eye to eye. My son highly resented his father," said Mrs Siziba.

She said the property destroyed by the fire comprised food, clothes, furniture, valuable documents and money.