The Donga family in Mpofu Village lost all its belongings
early last month when Kholwani Donga (26) from the same area set three houses
alight in three consecutive days accusing his grandparents Robert Donga (75)
and Ms Angela Mpala (52) of witchcraft.
The elderly man who was also village head in Mpofu area,
succumbed to the burns while admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo two
days after the fire while his wife is still admitted to St Luke’s Hospital in
Lupane.
Their domestic worker, Praymore Sibanda (19) is also still
admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Mpilo following the fire.
Last month we reported that Praymore had also succumbed to
the burns but further checks revealed that he was still in ICU.
Ms Ayanda Donga (23) and her daughter Bandile (8) as well
as nieces Buhle (10) and Andile (7) who escaped through the window with no
injuries are now accommodated at a neighbour’s home because they have nowhere
to stay.
The attacker, Donga, who allegedly doused a three-roomed
house with petrol before setting it alight with the seven inside, was remanded
in custody to April 1 by Lupane resident magistrate Mr Ndumo Masuku for a count
of murder and six others of attempted murder.
Ms Donga said her mother’s hospital bill was ballooning
although she could not state how much it is.
“Our homestead is still deserted as we have moved to a
brother’s homestead. The CPU came but they are waiting for my mother to be
discharged from hospital. She is still admitted and in pain because her whole
body was burnt. We are struggling to buy medicines for her while the hospital
bill is also accumulating,” she said.
A community leader Mr Permanent Sibanda who is also Zanu-PF
Lupane District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) chair appealed to well-wishers to
help the family.
“There has been no help so far besides what was donated
during the late Donga’s burial. Doctors are saying his wife will be discharged
soon but we don’t know where she will go because the homestead is in ruins. The
family is in a difficult position after losing everything. We managed to ask a
neighbour who is a distant relative to accommodate the children but their herd
of cattle has been in the bush since the fire incident and we fear they may be
attacked by wild animals or stolen. The domestic worker is also still admitted
with serious injuries. We are trying to find ways of helping the family as
local leadership,” said Mr Sibanda.
Three other families whose homesteads were also burnt by
mysterious fires in Guga Village 1, Dongamuzi area also in Lupane in separate
incidents are still living in an open space as they have not found help.
Mr Max Mlalazi (78), Mr Thembelani Mlalazi (39) and Mr
Khumbulani Nyathi (40) and their families lost all belongings following
heart-rending fire incidents more than a fortnight ago.
Lupane District Development Co-ordinator Mrs Ennety
Sithole, who chairs the district CPU, said the families desperately need help.
“We are still appealing for help as we wish to see the
families restored to their previous positions. So far we got three tapelines
from the provincial CPU for the Guga families and nothing for the Mpofu
family,” she said. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment