A juvenile misdemeanor sets others ablaze

THREE people of the same family from Chikupi area in Kafue district have been burnt to ashes after their house caught fire yesterday.

A brother to the deceased Steve Mweemba told ZANIS said the incident happened on Tuesday around 22:30hrs after the deceased had gone to sleep.

Mr Mweemba named the victims as Kawena Tembo aged 75, and her two grandchildren who include Tyson Mweemba 11 and Hapias Mweemba 14.

He said the mother to the siblings had locked the door to the house from outside.

Mr Mweemba said the mother feared that her 14 year old daughter could sneak out at night to see her boyfriend.

He said the girl did exactly as though by her mother but this time through the grass thatched roof.

Mr Mweemba said in the process of escaping a plastic which was hanging in the roof fell on a burning candle in the house.

He said his sister later realized that the house had been set ablaze by her acts thereby started yelling for help but unfortunately efforts failed to quench the fire which had already spread to the whole house.

He said they failed to retrieve anything from the house adding that they later called the police who managed to reach the scene around 23: 00hrs.

And Kafue District Commissioner Chinjili Zulu who also rushed to the accident scene said he was deeply saddened with the loss of the three members of one family through an inferno.

Mr Zulu said it was unfortunate that the loss of lives had come about due to misunderstandings between the mother and her daughter.

He has since pledged government’s assistance to the bereaved family towards funeral expenses.

The remains of the deceased will be buried today as police had launched investigations into the matter.

ZANIS/My Opinion