BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Lupane: A father and his three-year-old daughter died when they were struck by lightning in a kitchen hut they were seated in when heavy storms pounded the area on Sunday
Matabeleland North police confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Evan Moyo (27) and Samantha Moyo from Ndimimbili Village under Chief Mabhikwa.
The deceased were also in the company of Nomatter Moyo (23) who is also battling for her life at a local hospital.
“Moyo and his daughter (Samantha Moyo) were struck by lightning while inside the kitchen hut,”police said in a statement on Monday.
“Moyo died instantly whilst his wife was seriously injured on the face and Samantha passed on whilst being transported to Gomoza Clinic,”
“The circumstances are that on Sunday around 5pm, the deceased Moyo, his spouse and his late daughter entered the kitchen hut for shelter since it was raining. They were struck by a bolt of lightning while inside the kitchen and the hut caught fire.”
Police said the incident was witnessed by the victims’ neighbours, Pison Moyo and Metivity Ncube who saw the kitchen in flames.
“Upon arrival, Moyo and Ncube noticed that Nomatter Moyo had burns on her face while Samantha had burns all over her body and was still alive. They also observed that Evans Moyo had been burnt all over his body and had already passed on,” said the police.
“Ncube and Moyo then went with Nomatter Moyo and Samantha Moyo to Gomoza Clinic using a donkey drawn scotch cart, but Samantha Moyo passed on before they reached the clinic while the mother was referred to Saint Luke’s hospital for further management since she was critical.”
Last week on Wednesday, a woman from Jambezi on the outskirts of Victoria Falls was struck and killed by a lightning bolt while other family members were injured when the kitchen hut they were in caught fire.