Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
A 76-year-old widow from Harare’s Greencroft suburb has been left homeless after an attempted robbery allegedly triggered a devastating fire that destroyed her house and all her belongings.
The inferno broke out in the early hours of May 13th, the morning after suspected robbers allegedly attempted to force their way into Gogo Vaida Murahwa’s home through the roof.
“Just after midnight, I woke up for my morning prayer. As I was praying, I heard some noises from outside. There were people trying to get inside the house, but they could not because of the burglar barricades on the windows and doors. After failing to enter, they climbed on the roof and tore the solar and inverter cables. When we opened the door where we lock the solar battery and inverter, black smoke gushed out. That is when we realised the house was on fire. We just watched the flame consume every corner of the house. The fire brigade only came around 12 in the afternoon, way after everything was destroyed,” she said.
The fire reduced the house to ashes, leaving Gogo Murahwa and her daughter, who lives with an intellectual disability, without shelter or possessions.
Gogo Murahwa, who lost her husband in August last year and is battling several health complications, said the tragedy has left her devastated and uncertain about the future.
“I have lost everything, even the clothes I am wearing came from a well-wisher. I stay with my daughter with intellectual disability, and I have some health complications, so this has been a major blow for me. Who will carry the burden of housing my daughter and me? The chances or possibility of me rebuilding this house are very slim, where do I get the capacity? My husband died in August,” she said.
A syndicate of armed robbers is reportedly terrorising Harare’s west suburbs and surrounding areas.
Despite three of the suspected robbers having been caught on CCTV, they are still at large.
As Gogo Murahwa begins the difficult process of rebuilding her life, the traumatic experience still haunts her.
