An 81-year-old woman lost her life in a devastating house fire that broke out in Greendale, Harare on Friday.
The victim, identified only as Gogo Chabuka, died after the fire engulfed her home on Abel Road while she was asleep. The blaze destroyed her house and belongings.
According to police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Gogo Chabuka’s maid had left the house to attend prayers when the fire started.
“Police in Harare are investigating a fire incident in which a house along Abel Road, Greendale, caught fire resulting in a woman being burnt beyond recognition on Friday,” said Ass-Comm Nyathi.
The cause of the deadly fire remains under investigation.
Neighbours said there had been fiery explosions on nearby power lines in recent weeks since copper cables were replaced with overhead conductors two months ago.
One resident told the H-Metro newspaper: “Misfiring conductor lines adjacent Vernon Avenue, under fault number 125293, were separated last Saturday but they have been misfiring.”
The neighbour said fiery explosions could be seen on power lines on Abel Road and Vernon Avenue around the time Gogo Chabuka’s house caught fire.
Residents have appealed to Zesa, the state power firm, for a permanent solution to the problem of faulty power lines.
The tragic fire serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety precautions, especially for elderly and vulnerable residents. Gogo Chabuka’s death has left her family and community in mourning.
