Jilted man torches lover’s house in blind rage
By a Correspondent
POLICE have arrested a 22-year-old man for suspect arson after he allegedly burnt his girlfriend’s house in Lusangazi District of Eastern Province for turning down his marriage proposal.
Eastern Province commissioner of police Robertson Mweemba confirmed the arrest of Potiphar Phiri yesterday after he allegedly burnt a thatch-roof house where his former girlfriend was sleeping with other people around 23:00 hours.
Mweemba said the incident was reported to the police by Grace Mwanza, 34, after an enraged Phiri burnt the house belonging to 18-year-old Labya Mwenda in the middle of the night.
He said Phiri burnt the house after Mwenda rejected his marriage proposal in preference to continuing with her education at Simambumbu Village in Petauke District.
“We have in custody a young man by the name of Portipher Phiri, who is detained for burning a house. This incident occurred on the night of February 3, around 23 hours, targeting a house where three children slept,” Mweemba said .
He said Phiri allegedly set the house, which had a roof of grass, ablaze using a burning stick.
“The house was occupied by his 18-year-old former girlfriend Labya Mwenda, her 15-year-old sister and his own one-year-old son. The motive of the act is yet to be known,” he said.
Mweemba said tension escalated earlier in the evening when Phiri confronted Mwenda at her bedroom window, demanding entry into the house.
He said Phiri threatened violence if Mwenda did not allow him access into the house.
The noise attracted the attention of Mwenda’s mother, Grace Mwanza, who ordered him to leave.
“After being ordered away by the children’s mother, Grace Mwanza, Phiri reportedly returned an hour later. He set the house ablaze and the family was alerted by screams as flames engulfed the roof,” Mweemba said.
He said villagers discovered the home’s door shut with a chain from the outside.
“They managed to break in, rescued the three victims and extinguished the fire. But the house was destroyed. He was subsequently apprehended and put into custody,” he said.
