Zimpapers Logo

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
A TSHOLOTSHO woman lost about $30,000 in cash and property worth thousands of dollars when lightning struck her homestead and burnt everything that was in the house to ashes.

Regina Sibanda, 60, from Asiqhubekeleni Phambili village, under Chief Siphoso, yesterday told The Chronicle that she had just sold seven cattle and increased her savings to R15,000 and $28,000 which she was planning to invest in buying a house in Bulawayo.

The bulk of the money was sent to her by her children who work outside the country.

She said birth certificates, identity cards and passports belonging to her children and grandchildren were also burnt in the fire.

“I was sitting in the kitchen hut on Saturday afternoon with my grandchildren when it suddenly became windy. It looked like it was going to rain but it drizzled just for a few minutes. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise and when I looked outside, my two- bedroomed house was on fire,” said Sibanda.

“I screamed and called neighbours but it was too late. We watched as the house was being reduced to ashes. I’m grateful that my grandchildren and I are lucky to be alive but I’m devastated about my money that I’ve been saving to buy a house in Bulawayo.”

Sibanda, whose children are in South Africa, said she kept the money in a trunk – a consequence of mistrusting the banking system.

Tsholotsho District Administrator Nosizi Dube said: “It’s a sad story. The family lost everything after lightning struck their homestead and destroyed a house. We’re trying to help Regina to acquire the lost documents as well as get some assistance from well-wishers and the Civil Protection Unit.”

Chief Siphoso said: “I received the report and visited the homestead. It was the biggest house in the homestead, where they kept everything.”