SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO – An elderly partially paralysed woman due to stroke from Gutu, Madondo Village under Chief Mudavanhu in Nerupiri area died when the blankets that she was covered with caught fire in a hut that she was sleeping yesterday in the morning.
A villager from the same area confirmed the incident to The Midweek Watch on condition of anonymity as she is not related to the deceased identified as Mai Clifford.
Masvingo Province police, community relations and liaison officer, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he had not received such a report.
“It was around 9am when Mai Clifford’s granddaughter left her in her hut covered in blankets and there was some fire as it was cold.
“She went to fetch some firewood and after some time neighbours started smelling some unusual smell from the homestead and when they approached the place they found the hut already on fire and Mai Clifford already dead in the raging fire, although the neighbours managed to put out the fire she was already dead.
“Maybe she died from the smoke from the burning blankets and the fire as well as she could not help herself due to her condition,” said the villager.
