The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A 32-YEAR-OLD Chipinge woman is battling for life in hospital after she was burnt all over the body after a house caught fire.
Monica Machina-Dhibi of Gaza E was yesterday (Monday) afternoon transferred from Chipinge District Hospital to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital after she sustained serious injuries in the inferno.
She is the owner of the house, and was leasing other rooms to tenants.
Eight other tenants escaped with minor injuries, while property in some of the rooms was destroyed.
Police confirmed the incident, and said investigations were underway to establish the cause of the fire.
Narrating what transpired, Tamela Nemadziwa told The Manica Post that the fire gutted the house after petrol was accidentally spilled from one of the rooms.
“I was cooking on a gas stove in my room,” he said.
“In the next room there were other tenants who were sweeping, and accidentally knocked a container with petrol we had drained from our landlord’s Honda Fit fuel tank which was leaking.”
A blaze suddenly engulfed the house, Nemadziwa added.
He said when the fire broke out, he managed to escape through the window.
“The flames continued to spread to other rooms, and Machina-Dhibi tried to escape through the main door as her room has burglar bars. Her clothes caught fire and she was burnt all over the body,” said Nemadziwa.
Following a distress call, villagers rushed to the other tenants’ rescue and managed to douse the fire.
Another tenant, Trevor Masitsva (16) who is in Form Four at Chipinge High School, said he lost everything in the inferno.
“I am using one room here, and when I returned from school I was greeted with the sad news that my room was gutted by fire. I lost everything including books, food and clothes,” he said.
Those who wish to assist Machina-Dhibi can get in touch on 0784152937 or 0777042722.
