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Freedom Mupanedemo, Midlands Bureau
A 28-year-old man from Somabula outside Gweru allegedly used a wire to secure from outside, the door of a hut his mother and two siblings were sleeping before torching the hut at night.

The mother, Ms Prisca Manyemba, a teacher at Somabula Primary School, on Monday escaped with serious burns and is now recovering at Gweru Provincial Hospital while the two siblings survived with minor injuries.

Blessed Midzi (28) is now on the run after the incident that happened in a fight over a cow left behind by their late father.

His younger brother, Prosper (21) saved the day when he destroyed the door using an axe.

Ms Manyemba told our Midlands Bureau from her hospital bed on Wednesday that she has since reported the matter to the police.

“I am a widow and since the death of my husband some few years ago, I have been having problems with my son, Blessed. He is always away panning for gold and each time he returns home, he harasses me and his siblings.

“On the fateful day, he left the homestead grudgingly around 4 PM because I had told him to leave and stay alone, since I was tired of his behaviour.

“He has a wife and did not want the wife to do household chores arguing that she was learned and a holder of an A-Level certificate so I told them to find somewhere to stay.

“This is what angered him when he decided to try and kill us by burning the hut we were sleeping in,” she said.

Ms Manyemba said his other son, Prosper who was sleeping in the same hut when it caught fire was the hero who saved them.

“Prosper was the one who quickly woke up and alerted us that the hut was on fire.

“He tried to open the door and realised it was tied from outside. He then took an axe and broke the door and then we came out.

“I quickly knew it was my son, Blessed who had committed the offence and I have reported the matter to the police,” she said.

Police yesterday said they were investigating the matter.