A 20-year-old man named Leeroy Mpofu from Guduza Village, under Chief Sogwala in Lower Gwelo, sadly lost his life in a fire at a butchery on Tuesday night.
The police confirmed that the fire started around 10 PM while Leeroy was sleeping inside the butchery at the Mission Business Centre.
Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, a police spokesperson, stated, “We received a report of a sudden d3ath where a 20-year-old man was burned to d3ath in a fire. The incident took place on October 15, 2024. Leeroy Mpofu was working as a butchery attendant for Nkosana Sibanda, a 45-year-old man from the same area.”
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The police are currently investigating the incident.
An eyewitness named Darlington Mufundisi, who works at a nearby shop, said that he and other villagers tried to rescue Leeroy after they heard loud noises and screams, but they couldn’t get to him in time.
The exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but another witness, Mbongeni Ncube, mentioned that locals think the owner of the butchery might have been illegally selling petrol in unsafe containers and using gas for some appliances at the shop.
Ncube suggested that this could have caused the fire.
Alex Magura, the Chief Executive Officer for Vungu Rural District, said that they conduct safety checks at local businesses to prevent such disasters.
The owner of the butchery, Nkosana Sibanda, said he has spoken with Leeroy’s family and agreed to cover all funeral costs. He explained that they use gas for their fridge, and he suspects that a gas tank might have leaked, causing the fire that led to Leeroy’s d3ath.
The family of Leeroy has chosen not to comment on the situation, which has shocked and saddened the community.
