Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information leading to the arrest of an unknown individual who set a house in Queens Park East on fire with petrol, destroying various household items.
The incident occurred on Saturday around 10 p.m.
Bulawayo Police Spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, confirmed the incident, describing the fire as malicious and deliberate.
“The complainant, a 47-year-old male from Queens Park East, was coming from the shops and, just a few meters from his residence, he noticed flames coming from the thatched roof of his three-roomed cottage. As he rushed closer to the house, he saw a male adult running along a street behind the complainant’s house. The person got into a silver Honda Fit vehicle (registration number not captured) and drove off towards the west,” he said.
Inspector Ncube said that upon reaching his house, the complainant saw his wife and children fleeing the fire.
“The screams made by the complainant’s family attracted the attention of neighbours and passersby, who gathered and watched helplessly as the fire consumed the roof. At around 10:30 p.m., the complainant phoned the Fire Brigade and made a report to the police,” he said.
Most of the complainant’s household property was burnt.
“A half-full five-litre container of petrol and a box of matchsticks were discovered outside the precast wall behind the burnt house. A burnt mop was found in front of the house, which the complainant and his family claimed is not theirs,” said Inspector Ncube.
“It is suspected that the accused person might have used the mop to set the house on fire by soaking it in petrol, lighting it, and throwing it over the roof,” he added.
The value of the damage is yet to be determined, and the cause of the fire is still being investigated. Inspector Ncube appealed to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused person to report to any nearest police station.
