The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A 79-YEAR-OLD Mangwe man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to burn a traditional healer and his domestic worker alive in their hut over an undisclosed misunderstanding.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Stanford Mguni confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday in Mapholisa Village in Khahlu area. He said Johannes Ncube set Mr Sibangilizwe Moyo’s hut on fire while he was sleeping with his 19-year-old worker Mr Makhiseni Ngwenya.
“I can confirm that we recorded an attempted murder case which occurred on Monday in Mapholisa Village at around 8pm.
‘‘Sibangilizwe Moyo was asleep in his bedroom hut together with his worker Makhiseni Ngwenya when they heard the smell of paraffin. They woke up and saw the door of the hut on fire and they escaped through a back window.
‘‘They tried to put out the fire using water but some of the property had been damaged. Mr Moyo and his worker reported the matter to the police who attended the scene. They noticed some shoe prints from the burnt hut and they followed them for about two kilometres and they led to Ncube’s homestead,’’ he said.
Sgt Mguni said Ncube was immediately arrested. He said an empty five-litre container of paraffin and a box of matches were recovered outside the burnt hut.
He said the damaged property was valued at about $1 500. He said the incident occurred after a misunderstanding between Ncube and Mr Moyo over an undisclosed issue.
Sgt Mguni urged members of the public to desist from engaging in violence in order to resolve disputes. He said conflicting parties had to engage a third party in order to resolve disputes amicably.
@DubeMatutu
