POLICE in Bulawayo are investigating a bizarre case in
which the charred remains of a 75-year-old woman were found in a house where
nothing else was burnt.
Neighbours said they last saw Gogo Angeline Ndlovu alive on
June 6 around 11AM while she was basking in the sun outside her house in
Cowdray Park suburb.
They were then shocked to discover her charred remains in
her house two days later but nothing else in the house was burnt. Neighbours, worried that they had not seen her for days,
opened her back door, which was not locked and found her body burnt beyond
recognition.
“She was lying on the floor and was burnt almost to ashes.
Strangely, nothing else except a corner of the table appeared burnt. We are
asking ourselves how she could have been burnt to that extent yet the house
remained intact.
“It really boggles the mind how a person can be reduced to
ashes like that and yet the house remains untouched save for the corner of kitchen
table,” said one of the neighbours who spoke to the news crew.
Acting Bulawayo
Chief Fire Officer, Mr Edward Mpofu said the cause of fire remained unknown
although fire officers found a candle on the scene.
“Nothing can be ruled out because we were only called to
the scene by police when the fire had long died down and there had been traffic
at the scene. It becomes difficult to carry out any thorough investigations to
ascertain cause of fire in such circumstances where there is a possibility of
the place having been tampered with. A candle was found near the scene of the
incident which, however, does not necessarily mean that it was the source or
cause of the fire. The cause of fire therefore remains unknown,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said neighbours told them of a fire that occurred on
Wednesday night although they were not certain it had been in the house.
The old woman is said to have been living with some people
who apparently left a fortnight ago. Family members who
had travelled for the funeral wake declined to speak to the Press.
However, windows at the house were black with soot.
“I am the maternal uncle to the deceased, so I am the
mother. We have nothing to say to the Press. This is a family secret, it is our
matter, we do not want it published in your paper,” said a relative who only
identified himself as Mr Ndlovu.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga
Msebele said police were investigating the incident.
“I can confirm that we are dealing with a case of sudden
death of a 75-year-old woman who was found burnt beyond recognition at a house
in Cowdray Park suburb. Her body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals and
investigations are underway.
“The body was lying in the kitchen passage head facing the
door leading to the lounge. About three metres from the body was a half used
candle that was not burning and next to the body was a wooden table that was
partly burnt. The lower part of the legs were not burnt,” said Assistant
Inspector Msebele. Chronicle
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