MUTARE — A 99-year-old Mutare woman was burnt beyond recognition last Thursday after a fire she had built to warm herself at night torched her hut and reduced it to ashes.
Police confirmed the incident and identified the victim as Janet Zambuko of Magodhlo village in Zimunya.
Acting Manicaland Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Enock Chishiri said on the fateful night Zambuko’s son, Peter, left her mother and a companion identified as Grace Kuhudzai (67) warming themselves as he went to work at around 8pm.
“The two retired to bed in the kitchen hut while the fire was still glowing. At around 2am Grace woke up and discovered that the hut had caught fire,” Chishiri said.
She allegedly bolted out of the hut after failing to rescue her colleague as the fire had spread all over.
Kuhudzai tried to raise alarm, seeking help from her neighbours, but it was to no avail as the kitchen caved in.
