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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A 63-YEAR-OLD woman from Dete in Hwange District escaped death after her younger sister torched a hut she was sleeping in after securing the door.

Hwange regional magistrate Mr Collet Ncube heard that Judith Shoko (43) set fire to a hut in which her sister Ms Idah Chimbiye Shoko was sleeping at around 3AM on Sunday.

Shoko of Chilanga area under Chief Nekatambe and her sister had fought before the incident.

Ms Chimbiye Shoko has her son Mr Isaac Mudimbo to thank after he rushed to rescue her by untying the rope securing the door.

Her son also put out the fire with the help of neighbours.

The complainant escaped without any injuries, the court was told.

Shoko pleaded guilty to attempted murder charges when she appeared before Mr Ncube on Tuesday.

The magistrate sentenced her to six years but suspended three years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
Shoko will serve an effective three years in jail.

Prosecuting, Mr Tomupei Mbiza said Shoko used matches to set alight the hut.

“The accused hatched a plan to revenge after an assault by her elder sister. On August 6 at about 3AM, she armed herself with a box of matches and a rope and proceeded to the complainant’s homestead,” said the prosecutor.

Upon arrival, Shoko set the hut on fire.

“She tied the door with a rope so the victim would not escape. The complainant was awakened by the noise and identified the person at the door as her younger sister. She pleaded with her to stop what she was doing,” the court was told.

The prosecutor said Shoko proceeded to set the hut on fire and went away leaving her elder sister screaming for help.

Mr Mudimbo quickly reacted after hearing his mother screaming, before neighbours helped him to put out the fire.

Property valued at $300 was burnt while the complainant escaped unhurt.—@ncubeleon