AN Epworth man Bernard Muzhandu Mucheka (43), who could not gracefully accept his 40–year–old girlfriend’s decision to terminate their relationship, allegedly went into a fit of rage and set ablaze the house in which the girlfriend and six of her family members were sleeping on April 20 this year.
Report by Phillip Chidavaenzi
The girlfriend — Lorraine Mtetwa — together with four of her family members died one after the other in the following days as a result of the burns sustained from the inferno.
It is alleged that in February this year, Lorraine discovered that her lover was married and terminated the relationship, after which Mucheka is alleged to have started plotting how to fix her.
Harare Magistrate Donald Ndirowei yesterday remanded Mucheka to May 22 and advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.
He was charged with murder as defined in the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutor Tungamirai Chakurira alleged that Mucheka went to the deceased’s house in Epworth around midnight with a 5-litre container of petrol. It is further alleged that upon arrival, he broke a window pane in the bedroom and sprinkled petrol before setting the room on fire.
Lorraine was sleeping in the room together with Rutendo Makarati (13), Melisa Makarati (8), Shamiso Gohodza (16) Colletta Gohodza (17) and Gamuchirai Gohodza (15). Another family member, Lovemore Makarati (19), was asleep in the adjacent room.
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With the exception of Lovemore, they all sustained serious burns, and were taken to Harare Central Hospital for treatment. On April 23, Lorraine died at the hospital, followed by Colleta on April 24. Rutendo and Shamiso died the following day on April 25.
The other three — Melisa, Gamuchirai and Lovemore — are still admitted at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit where they are battling for their lives.
