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Wynne Zanamwe, Midlands Reporter
TWO MEN from Gweru accused of petrol-bombing a room in which one of the accused’s ex-lover was sleeping with her friend, appeared in court facing attempted murder charges.

Garikayi Zvawanda Tabarinda (43) and Itai Manyoka (34) who both reside in Ascot Infill, Gweru, appeared before Gweru Magistrate Mr Musaiona Shotgame.

The two who pleaded not guilty, were remanded in custody to December 16.

Mr Shotgame advised the pair to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Ms Senzeni Maphosa told the court that on December 2, Tabarinda went to Ms Cynthia Hlabangana’s room and knocked on the door but the complainant refused to open.

Tabarinda who suspected that his ex-girlfriend was entertaining a rival suitor, then approached Manyoka and told him his intentions to punish his ex-lover, the court heard. “The two proceeded to filling station using a Honda Fit which was being driven by Manyoka.

‘‘Tabarinda then bought nine litres of fuel and thereafter they proceeded to Ms Hlabangana’s house,”Ms Maphosa said.

She said Tabarinda took two plastic containers containing five litres and four litres of petrol respectively and went to the room where the Ms Hlabangana was sleeping with her friend Ms Nancy Sibanda.

The court heard Tabarinda broke a window pane to the complainant’s room and poured the petrol inside, shouting that he wanted to kill Ms Hlabangana.

He set the room on fire and the two women who were trapped in the room, were severely burnt before they were rescued by fellow tenants.

After setting the room on fire, Tabarinda ran to the gate where Manyoka was waiting for him in the car and they drove away.

The two women were rushed to Gweru General Hospital and later transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare where they are battling for life.

@wynnezane