The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE death of a toddler in a family is painful, but the loss of such a young soul in a candle light inferno is unbearably painful.
Sadly a Mutare family finds itself in this situation after their two-year-old child lost his in life in a fire lit by a candle in their family’s bedroom.
The toddler’s father is currently nursing serious head injuries sustained as he tried to save his son.
The Manica Post understands that the inferno was caused by a candle after the father had gone out briefly to relieve himself.
The fire engulfed the whole house in Chikanga suburb of Mutare and claimed the young life of Tryian Chipandu last week on Friday.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo confirmed the incident and said Mr Charles Chipandu, who was alone with his children, woke up and left the bedroom to relieve himself, leaving the candle on.
Mr Chipandu’s wife was away on night duty at Chiadzwa diamond fields where she is employed.
As the fire spread, Mr Chipandu heard his seven-year-old child crying out for help.
Inspector Muzondo said: “When the father dashed back to the bedroom, the fire had already engulfed the whole room. He only managed to rescue the seven-year-old child from the fire.
“He, however, could not save the toddler because of the raging inferno and the baby was burnt to death.”
Inspector Muzondo said the father sustained burns on his forehead and back as he tried to save his children.
When The Manica Post visited the Chipandu family in Chikanga, they had already shifted base to the deceased’s grandparent’s place in Dangamvura Area 16 where his funeral was conducted.
The whole house was badly damaged by the fire.
Tryian’s grandmother, Mrs Lucy Chipandu said they are yet to come to terms with his painful death.
“They failed to salvage anything from the inferno. The father and the surviving child were only left with the clothes they were wearing when the incident happened.
“We are yet to come to terms with this tragedy. The mother is in a worse off condition and you cannot talk to her in that condition as she seriously needs counselling. The father is admitted in hospital because of the serious burns he suffered as he tried to save his child,” said Mrs Chipandu.
Following an explosion of a gas tank, Mr Chipandu was thrown out of the house were he collapsed, thereby putting a stop to his mission to save his now deceased child.
Despite his serious injuries, Mr Chipandu even begged for permission to leave the hospital so that he could bury his child.
“I was not there when it happened and his wife was also not there as she was on night duty. However, I gathered that when he heard his seven-year-old child screaming for help, he dashed to the bedroom and met the child at the door.
“The whole bedroom was on fire, but he tried to force his way inside to save the child, only to be thrown out after an explosion, probably from the gas tank. He loved his child so much. He even begged for permission to be temporarily discharged from hospital to attend his child’s funeral. After the funeral, he was re-admitted in hospital,” she said.
When contacted for comment while in hospital, Mr Chipandu said he is not yet ready for interviews.
“I would prefer to recover from this pain first my brother, let’s talk later,” he said.
Inspector Muzondo warned members of the public to be extra cautious when using candles and gas.
“We warn members of the public that they should be vigilant when using candles and gas.
“We are aware that candles and gas are being widely used by members of the public due to the ongoing electricity load shedding, but caution is needed whenever using them. It is sad that we continue losing lives through such incidents,” said Inspector Muzondo.
