Nqobile Tshili  Chronicle Reporter
THREE children were burnt to ashes while a fourth died on the way to hospital after a fire gutted a shop they were sleeping in at Tshipisane village in Matobo District in Matabeleland South province yesterday.Limukani Mnguni, 20, who was sleeping with the children, has been admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals with severe burns.

Family members identified the children aged between two and 11 years as Mbongiseni Dube, 2, Thandolwenkosi Bhebhe, 3,  Gugulethu Dube, 9, and Iphithule Dube, 11.

They said Mnguni left a gas stove on and it ignited a petrol container which exploded in the children’s bedroom.

A sombre atmosphere engulfed the village when Chronicle visited the scene yesterday.

Shell shocked villagers watched as police shovelled the children’s remains into sacks.

Called to assist the police in their investigations, the mother of the three children who were reduced to ashes, Siphiwe Dube said she had visited her rural home when the tragedy struck.

“I was supposed to go to Botswana to buy stock for the shop and had visited my rural home early in the morning. I was devastated to find my children dead on my return,” said Dube, who was sobbing and struggling to stand on her own.

“I saw a crowd standing around my shop which was burnt down and I feared the worst because I left my children asleep in the shop.”

Father to one of the children, Precious Bhebhe, said he was at loss for words following the tragedy.

He said his brother in law had gone to UBH to check on Mnguni, his wife.

Bhebhe said the tragedy was a bitter pill to swallow for the family.

“I believe it was an accident that we have to accept. I think the disaster teaches us to be more cautious in future,” said Bhebhe.

An elderly woman Auxillina Ncube said losing children was the worst thing for any mother saying Dube needed counselling in order to cope with the traumatic experience.

“It’s very sad, painful and traumatising. They should monitor her because she might harm herself,” said Ncube.

Jonathan Ncube told the Chronicle that he was one of the first people to arrive at the scene.

He said he was awoken by blood curdling screams and saw thick black smoke coming from the shop as the fire consumed it.

“I heard screams and when I rushed to the shop, it was already too late. The fire was coming through the roof and I felt helpless as I couldn’t save the children. I called for others who helped put out the fire,” said Ncube.

MP for Matobo South, Soul Ncube appealed to the government to assist the bereaved family.

“They’ve lost everything. The mother who is  the owner of the shop lost children, property and money.  Literally, they are left with nothing. They will   need to bury the children and I don’t know where  that money will come from. I’m appealing to government and well wishers to assist the family,” he said.

Cde Ncube said burial arrangements will be announced in due course as police had taken the remains for forensic tests.

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