Man burns wife and kid, hangs self

A POLYGAMOUS Binga man caused a stir after he set himself, his first wife and their daughter on fire before he committed suicide following a domestic dispute between his two wives over allegations that the first wife had refused to give the second wife food.

Siambimbi Mugande of Nsenga in Bundimba Village under chief Sikalenge died on Tuesday after setting himself, his first wife, Grace Mutale, and daughter Twazunda on fire in a kitchen hut using petrol. Twazunda died the following day at the Binga District Hospital while Mutale is still in the intensive care unit.

"We are shocked to hear what happened to Mugande as we do not really know why he decided to take such an action against his family," said a villager who preferred anonymity.

"We are told that he called both his wife and daughter inside a kitchen hut where he then locked the house from inside. He then threw the keys outside and set the hut on fire. Villagers went to rescue the family after they heard them screaming for help. Mutale had her hands and legs seriously burnt while her daughter was visibly not in good shape as her body was completely fried up by the fire. Mugande escaped with minor injuries."

It is said that Mr Mugande travelled about five kilometres from his home area to a mountain where he was discovered hanging from a tree. His body was recovered on Wednesday by the police and taken to Binga Hospital mortuary before burial.

According to villagers, the incident happened after Mutale had refused to give food to Mugande's second and "preferred" wife. Mugande then complained and started assaulting the senior wife on why she didn't want to share food when all of them were staying in the same place. Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Mrs Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident.