Cops to probe petrol bomb incident

Police in Harare say they have launched an intense probe on the case in which four of seven Epworth family members died last week from injuries sustained when a house they were sleeping in was petrol-bombed a fortnight ago, the Herald reports.

Lorraine Mtetwa (35) and her three daughters Colleta Gohodza (16), Shamiso (17) and Rutendo Mukarati (12), died last Wednesday due to burns sustained in the petrol-bombing.

The four victims were buried over the weekend at Granville Cemetery in Harare.

Three other victims of the bombing -  Gamuchirai Gohodza (17) and Ruvimbo (13) and Mellisa Mukarati (8) are still admitted at Harare Central Hospital and reportedly in a critical condition.

Police investigations revealed that there was a suspect only identified as Bernard, who was a boyfriend to the mother and had been sending threatening messages to the family.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said no arrests had been made and they were still looking for the suspect.

The matter is now being handled by the CID Homicide section. The incident occurred at Number 907 Stop Over in Epworth.

Mtetwa's son, Lovemore Mukarati, was sleeping in the dining room while his mother and six other children were sleeping in the bedroom when he woke up and saw fire in the house.

Investigations revealed that petrol had been sprinkled and Lovemore later woke his mother and sisters before rescuing them.

Lovemore discovered that the window in his mother's bedroom had been broken and petrol sprinkled into the room and the house set on fire.