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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A SEVEN-year-old boy from Chirumanzu was burnt beyond recognition after a fire razed a hut in which he was sleeping.

According to the summary of sudden death report, Nicholas Mazvimba from Charandura area in Chirumanzu, was consumed by the fire which started at around 8PM on Monday in the family’s bedroom hut.

His brother, Kudakwashe (9), the police report said, escaped death when he managed to run out before the thatched bedroom hut was engulfed by the fire.

Nicholas and Kudakwashe lived with their grandparents since their parents work in South Africa.“The grandparents of the seven-year-old deceased boy Nicholas Mazvimba retired to bed around 8PM.

‘‘They went into their bedroom hut with Nicholas and his brother Kudakwashe retiring to their own bedroom hut,” according to the police report.

“After preparing where to sleep, Kudakwashe wanted to put out the light from the lantern and used a cloth which caught fire. He then threw away the cloth that had caught fire and it fell on the mattress where Nicholas was already lying.”

Kudakwashe bolted out of the hut and notified his grandparents about the incident, but when they went to investigate, the hut had been engulfed by the fire and smoke was all over the area.

“The family then watched haplessly as Nicholas was consumed by the fire which they failed to put out until it had burnt all the things in the hut and consumed the boy in the process,” concluded the report.

Midlands provincial magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, waived post-mortem at the request of the minor’s grandparents who said they did not suspect any foul play in the death of the grandchild.

@pchitumba1