BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A six-year-old Tsholotsho girl was burnt to death by a fire that she started while playing at an abandoned homestead.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Glory Banda confirmed the death of Sijabulile Meron Ncube from Bubude Line under Chief Gampu on Thursday, but could not elaborate on the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
“We confirm that we received such a report on August 19, 2021, but I cannot give any details surrounding the circumstances as I am out of the office, “Banda said.
However, a relative who requested anonymity said Sijabulile, who stayed with her grandmother Pretty Nkomo (64), was alone at home when the incident happened at around 2 PM.
Nkomo had gone to Bubude Clinic to get a Covid-19 vaccine dose.
“She was playing with other two girls of her age and she decided to make a fire,” the relative said.
“She then collected grass and stashed it into a hut at an abandoned homestead before igniting it.
“Soon after, the flames engulfed the whole hut as she had put too much dry grass and she failed to escape as the hut was also brought down.”
As the flames engulfed her while screaming for help, her two friends ran to fetch her grandmother.
Nkomo tried to put out the fire, but it was too late to save her granddaughter as she was already dead.
The matter was reported at the Tshefunye police base and Sijabulile’s body was then taken to Tsholotsho District Hospital en-route to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem.
Banda said investigations were still underway to establish what led to the girl’s death.