News / Regional
Family abandons homestead after three lightning strikes
09 Dec 2015 at 05:21hrs | Views
A FAMILY from Sikabela area in Hwange District has fled its homestead after lightning struck three times reducing a hut to rubble and destroying property. Acting Chief Mvuthu confirmed receiving a report of the incident.
Neighbours told The Chronicle they suspected evil spirits were haunting the family following weird occurrences that included another lightning strike in 2011.
The bizarre incident occurred on Wednesday last week in Lusaba Village under Chief Mvuthu. Sibusisiwe Ngwenya, 23, and her two-week-old baby narrowly escaped death as they were in the hut when the lightning struck the bed they were sleeping on.
Her mother-in-law Simangaliso Dube, 46, was rushed to hospital and treated for shock. Dube, who is diabetic and has hypertension, was admitted for three days at Victoria Falls District Hospital.
A Chronicle news crew visited the deserted homestead where it found the rubble of what used to be a hut. "What happened here is so sad. The baby only escaped with one napkin while the family lost everything. We suspect there could be some evil spirits because this is not the first time this has happened," said a neighbour who asked not to be named. Whoever heard of lightning striking the same place twice, let alone thrice within minutes?" asked the neighbour.
The news crew tracked Dube, her son Honest and daughter-in-law Ngwenya to Chinotimba suburb.
Ngwenya said: "I was lying on the bed with my daughter when I heard a loud bang. As I looked up, there was a something that looked like a star on the roof. I screamed, grabbed my daughter and fled to the kitchen where my mother in-law was".
Dube said the lightning struck around 5PM.
Even the heavy rains that pounded for about two hours, she said, could not put out the inferno as the hut was destroyed.
"I was cooking in the kitchen hut when my daughter in-law suddenly screamed. We realised the bedroom hut had been struck by lightning," said Dube.
She said she tried to go out but lightning struck again twice before the room collapsed destroying all property inside.
The bolt reportedly struck the roof of the hut before striking for the second time, getting through the window and setting a bed alight.
Dube and the rest of the family have since sought refuge at her brother-in-law's house in Chinotimba suburb.
She said they lost all food stocks, maize seed, household furniture, blankets, utensils, solar panels, building material, $300 and the only clothes they remained with were the ones they were wearing.
As if that was not enough, Dube said, suspected thieves broke into her brother's house on the day she was discharged from hospital and stole close to $200 which was in a handbag.
Neighbours told The Chronicle they suspected evil spirits were haunting the family following weird occurrences that included another lightning strike in 2011.
The bizarre incident occurred on Wednesday last week in Lusaba Village under Chief Mvuthu. Sibusisiwe Ngwenya, 23, and her two-week-old baby narrowly escaped death as they were in the hut when the lightning struck the bed they were sleeping on.
Her mother-in-law Simangaliso Dube, 46, was rushed to hospital and treated for shock. Dube, who is diabetic and has hypertension, was admitted for three days at Victoria Falls District Hospital.
A Chronicle news crew visited the deserted homestead where it found the rubble of what used to be a hut. "What happened here is so sad. The baby only escaped with one napkin while the family lost everything. We suspect there could be some evil spirits because this is not the first time this has happened," said a neighbour who asked not to be named. Whoever heard of lightning striking the same place twice, let alone thrice within minutes?" asked the neighbour.
The news crew tracked Dube, her son Honest and daughter-in-law Ngwenya to Chinotimba suburb.
Ngwenya said: "I was lying on the bed with my daughter when I heard a loud bang. As I looked up, there was a something that looked like a star on the roof. I screamed, grabbed my daughter and fled to the kitchen where my mother in-law was".
Even the heavy rains that pounded for about two hours, she said, could not put out the inferno as the hut was destroyed.
"I was cooking in the kitchen hut when my daughter in-law suddenly screamed. We realised the bedroom hut had been struck by lightning," said Dube.
She said she tried to go out but lightning struck again twice before the room collapsed destroying all property inside.
The bolt reportedly struck the roof of the hut before striking for the second time, getting through the window and setting a bed alight.
Dube and the rest of the family have since sought refuge at her brother-in-law's house in Chinotimba suburb.
She said they lost all food stocks, maize seed, household furniture, blankets, utensils, solar panels, building material, $300 and the only clothes they remained with were the ones they were wearing.
As if that was not enough, Dube said, suspected thieves broke into her brother's house on the day she was discharged from hospital and stole close to $200 which was in a handbag.
Source - chronicle
