A mother and her 14 year old daughter were burnt beyond recognition after their hut was gutted by fire around midnight on Tuesday, police have confirmed.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said the incident occurred at Village 5, Dombojena area in Shurugwi and that investigations are underway to establish the cause of the fire.
"Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating circumstances surrounding the death of two people who were burnt to death when a hut they were sleeping in was gutted by fire,"Mahoko said.
"The now deceased persons were identified as Onismo Ncube, aged 33 and her daughter Thabolihle Dube, aged 14.
"It is alleged that on August 4 at around 0020 hours, Admire Mabveku, aged 45 of Umcima 49 Mine in Shurugwi heard crying voices from the now deceased persons' homestead, which is near the mine "
Mahoko said Mabveku rushed to the scene where he discovered that two huts were on fire before alerting nearby villagers to help put out the fire.
Keep Reading
- News in depth: Partisan police force persecutes opposition, shields Zanu PF rogue elements
- Chamisa chilling death threat bishop defiant
- NMB workers take on employer
- News in depth: Partisan police force persecutes opposition, shields Zanu PF rogue elements
He said efforts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful as the roofs of the two huts had already collapsed.
"Police attend the scene and found two huts having been burnt to ashes before retrieving the bodies which were burnt (in one of the huts),"he said.
Mahoko appealed to members of the community who might have information to assist in the investigations.