Old lady (74) burnt to death trying to retrieve belongings

A 74-YEAR-OLD granny from Bulilima area was burnt to death while trying to retrieve her belongings from her burning bedroom hut in the middle of the night.

The incident that occurred last Thursday at around 2AM, has caused tension with villagers accusing Josephine Dube's family of intentionally killing her in the fire.

Family members said Dube, of Gampu area, rushed into the burning hut in a bid to recover her blankets but the roof collapsed while she was inside.

Matabeleland South acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda confirmed the incident.

He said police were still carrying out investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Her son, Olden Dube, said he and his wife watched helplessly while the fire consumed his mother's body.

Dube said they suspected that the fire could have been started by a paraffin lamp which his mother was using in her bedroom hut.

He said he was woken up by his mother's screams.

"I was asleep with my wife in our bedroom hut when we heard screams from my mother. We rushed out and discovered that my mother's bedroom hut was on fire and my mother was busy retrieving her valuables from the hut," said Dube.

He said he helped his mother to retrieve some of the property which was in the hut while his wife tried to put out the fire with water.

Dube said they managed to retrieve almost all the property but his mother insisted on removing her blankets.

He said he advised her to leave the blankets as it was now dangerous to enter the burning hut but she insisted on getting them.

"My mother dashed into the hut and the roof collapsed while she was inside. We watched as the flames consumed her and reduced her to ashes," said Dube.

He said the lower part of her body was burnt to ashes while her upper body was burnt beyond recognition.

The councillor for the area, Bornface Phiri, said villagers close to the old woman's homestead were demanding thorough investigations as they suspected foul play.