A MAN from Gambo area in Plumtree is suspected to have burnt his mother to death in a bedroom hut after he had previously allegedly sold her three cows and a puppy. PRIVILEGE SHOKO OWN CORRESPONDENT
It is suspected that he might have killed her to stop her from pursuing the stocktheft cases.
According to police sources in Plumtree, the incident occurred last Tuesday at around 1am.
The deceased was identified as Josephine Dube (74), while the accused, who is her son, was identified as Olden Dube (40).
“At around 8:30pm on Monday, Olden and his wife Velaphi Moyo retired to bed, leaving Dube in the kitchen,” the police source said.
“At around 1am on Tuesday Olden went to the toilet and soon after returning he heard his mother shouting saying the house was on fire.”
According to sources, when Olden went to investigate he found Dube’s bedroom engulfed by fire while she was trying to remove her property from the inferno.
“Olden allegedly acted as if he was helping her remove a bed base and when she rushed back into the house trying to remove some blankets the roof collapsed leading to Dube being engulfed by the raging fire and he could do nothing to save her,” the source said.
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“Investigations revealed that the suspect sold his mother’s three beasts to fund his marriage and that a misunderstanding ensued in May this year.”
The source said on December 14, Olden took advantage of Dube’s absence and sold her puppy, which did not go down well with his mother.
It is also reported that Dube and her children had crossed swords, as they alleged that she was bewitching them and their children.
“The fact that Olden had been sick for some time might hold water that he might have been thinking that she had bewitched him, though he is on tuberculosis treatment,” a neighbour revealed.
According to the sources, a neighbour called Grapevine, claimed to have heard Dube shouting asking why his son was killing her. Matabeleland South Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda yesterday confirmed the incident.
“Gambo police officers and officers from the Criminal Investigation Department attended the scene and Olden and his wife were picked up for questioning on what caused the fire,” he said.
“We are not exactly sure whether Olden was the one who burnt his mother, as a paraffin light was found on the scene.
“We are still investigating the case.”
