Girl (12) sets fire to 5 houses in two weeks

A 12-year-old girl from Bulawayo's Queens Park West suburb allegedly set fire to five houses in the last two weeks, completely gutting three.
 
Last week, the girl (name withheld because of her age) allegedly burnt down a house and a cottage where her family used to live.

The Fire Brigade was called to the scene on Friday after she allegedly set fire to another house and tried to burn down a cottage.

Residents said the juvenile's family was rendered homeless when she set their house and cottage ablaze two weeks ago.

"No one suspected her at the time but after she was caught red handed by the man who took them in, setting fire to his house today, all that has changed today. I wonder how her father will pay for the damage she has caused," said one of the neighbours.

They said Nkosilathi Sibanda caught the girl setting fire to curtains at the main house after she had left a raging inferno at the cottage.

The neighbours said the child needed exorcism because they suspected the child was possessed by evil spirits.

Others said she just needed counselling.

Her father declined to speak to the Press.

Bulawayo's chief fire officer Richard Peterson confirmed that the Fire Brigade was called to put out a fire at Queenspark.

He said they had been called to the suburb "several times in the last two weeks."

Peterson urged parents and guardian not to let their children play with matches, saying some do not understand the terrible consequences of their actions.