Tenant's sons burn landlord's house

Mutare Magistrate Poterai Gwezhira will preside over the trial of two men, Solomon (21) and God'swill Tafara Takaendesa (23), who are facing charges of negligently causing serious damage to property under Section 141 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23).

The State, led by prosecutor Sandra Mlambo, presented the case that on 23 September 2023, at number 7174 Area 15 Dangamvura, Mutare, the accused unlawfully caused serious damage to a nine-roomed house belonging to Amos Mutakura.

Mlambo explained that the two men, who reside in Fernvalley and had visited their father (a tenant of Mutakura), directly connected a solar panel to a battery without using a regulator for charging. The battery was placed in the spare bedroom, where it caught fire, which quickly spread and destroyed the entire house.

"The fire originated from the battery and caused serious damage to the property. The forensic laboratory report REF 61/2023 confirms the cause," said Mlambo.

The total value of the damaged property is estimated at US$85,000, and nothing was salvaged from the blaze.