A MYSTERIOUS explosion rocked a house in Zengeza 2, Chitungwiza, yesterday afternoon killing five people, including a traditional healer and a client he was attending to in the house from which the blast emanated. Report by Phillip Chidavaenzi
The explosion ripped through the walls of several nearby houses destroying them.
Bodies of the blast victims were mutilated and bits of the remains were strewn metres away from the house, including on rooftops at nearby houses.
Among the dead was a seven-month-old baby.
The traditional healer — identified as Speakmore Mandere — was said to have been carrying out some rituals.
Three of the injured were taken to Chitungwiza Central Hospital for treatment.
Police suspected the explosion could have been caused by lightning after the army bomb-disposal team found no evidence of a bomb blast.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the deaths, but said they were yet to establish the cause of the explosion.
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“There was an explosion and five people are feared dead. The police are still on the ground investigating the cause of the explosion,” Charamba said.
The blast also damaged 12 houses in the same neighbourhood, breaking window panes and causing cracks on the walls. There was, however, no sign of a fire at the house.
St Mary’s Police spokesperson Inspector Daniel Badza also confirmed the incident.
He said: “Our preliminary investigations have indicated that there could have been lightning. Houses within a radius of 50 metres had their windows shattered and roofs destroyed.”
When the NewsDay team arrived at the house, scores of people were gathered, jostling to catch a glimpse of the tragic scene. The police had to call in reinforcements of the riot squad to control the crowd.
Members of the fire brigade could be seen picking up pieces of the dismembered human bodies from rooftops of adjacent houses, while members of the Zimbabwe National Army’s bomb disposal unit were searching debris for possible explosives.
One of the deceased, identified as Clever Kamudzeya, was said to be a businessman with a fleet of kombis and had come to consult the traditional healer in the presence of his wife, who was also injured in the blast.
Some neighbors said the traditional healer had come to live at the house six months ago and had recently been issued with an eviction notice for as-yet unclear reasons.
The property owner is said to live in the rural areas in Manicaland.
