A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Guduza Village, under Chief Sogwala in Lower Gwelo, Leeroy Mpofu tragically lost his life in a devastating fire that broke out at a growth point butchery on Tuesday night.
The incident, which has been confirmed by the Police, occurred around 10pm while the man was fast asleep inside the premises, NewsDay has learnt.
“We confirm having received a report of sudden death where a 20-year-old man was burnt to death in an inferno. The incident took place in a butchery at Mission Business Centre, Lower Gwelo, on 15 October 2024 at about 2030 hours.
“The now deceased Leeroy Mpofu of Guduza Village, under Chief Sogwala, Lower Gwelo, was employed by Nkosana Sibanda, a man aged 45, from the same lower Gwelo area, as a Butchery attendant at Mission Business Centre, Lower Gwelo,” Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said, adding that investigations are underway.
According to Darlington Mufundisi (28), an eyewitness who works in a neighbouring shop, although he and other villagers tried to rescue the deceased following initial burst sounds and screams, their efforts were futile.
While details on the actual cause of the fire are still unknown, Mbongeni Ncube another eyewitness who spoke to NewsDay said locals suspect the owner of the butchery is involved in the illegally selling of petrol using unfit containers and uses gas to run some appliances at his shop.
“The mishandling of the fuel could have caused the incident,” said Ncube.
However, Vungu Rural District Chief Executive Officer Alex Magura said they do risk assessments at business premises around the area, which are carried out by an Internal Audit department to avoid such cases of disaster.
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Meanwhile, the business owner said he had spoken to the deceased’s family and reached an agreement that he would pay for all funeral logistics.
“I am the owner of the butchery, we use gas for our fridge, so I suspect that one of the gas tanks leaked resulting in the fire outbreak hence the death of the boy. We will take care of all the funeral expenses,” Sibanda told NewsDay.
The family of the deceased refused to comment on the incident that has left the community in shock and mourning.
