2 infants die in inferno outside Bulawayo

By Mpumelelo Nyoni

BULAWAYO – Two infants died, one of them burnt beyond recognition, when a fire engulfed their family home in Montgomery farm just outside Bulawayo. The children were alone in the house while their mother escorted her lover during the incident which happened at about 2AM on Sunday.

Nine-month-old Mayibongwe Jere was reduced to ashes while his half-sister, Issah, 3, sustained first degree burns to the lower half of her body. She died hours after being admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

The tragedy has been traced to a burning candle that was left in the room by their mother.

Neighbours said the mother, Sibongile Mlilo, who is separated from her husband, allegedly left her two children alone to escort her new lover.

Witnesses who spoke to Chronicle during a visit to the farm compound yesterday, said they were awoken by loud cries as the toddlers were engulfed in the inferno.

Clever Mafura, a neighbour, said he managed to take the children out of the room after being alerted of their cries by his wife.

“It was around 2AM and my wife and I were sleeping in our room. We heard children crying and she got out of our room to see what was going on. She ran back and told me that the door was burning. I carried a bucket full of water and kicked the door open. Mayibongwe was already burnt and I placed him outside. Issah was trapped under the blankets and she was burnt from her feet to the waist and she was bleeding from the nose and mouth. She kept crying out for her mother and we later called an ambulance,” said Mafura.

Mandla Jere, father to Mayibongwe, said he was called by the owner of the house, Chipo Hamandishe, notifying him of his son’s death.

“Sibongile and I separated six months ago and I live in Kensington with my new girlfriend. I received a call from Chipo Hamandishe informing me that my child had been burnt in a fire due to a candle that was left on a wooden stand. When I went to the farm on Sunday at about 10AM, I saw that my son was reduced to a pile of ash due to the burns. I don’t even know where these evil spirits came from,” he said.

Jere said the police had taken Sibongile and her lover in for questioning at about 4PM yesterday.

He said the two minors would be buried today at the farm. Chronicle