Police in Eastern Province has arrested a 44-year-old woman of Chasefu District for allegedly setting her husband’s house on fire, resulting in his death.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba, confirmed the incident to the media, which occurred between midnight and 01:00 hours on June 5, 2026, in Mukanile Village of Nkhanga area in Chasefu District.
Mr Mweemba said the fire left the victim with severe burns all over his body and destroyed property valued at K4,550.
He said the matter was initially reported as a case of arson at Nkhanga Police Post under Lundazi Police Station by Agness Nyirenda, 49, that a grass-thatched house in which her brother-in-law, Jackson Nyirenda, 48, was sleeping had been set ablaze by unknown persons.
“Following the report, Police opened a docket of arson and issued a medical report form to facilitate treatment for the victim,” he said.
Mr Mweemba said Jackson later succumbed to his injuries at around 22:00 hours on the same day while receiving treatment at Lundazi District Hospital.
“The body has since been deposited in the hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination,” he said.
Mr Mweemba said investigations have since instituted saying the deceased and his wife, Mary Vuma, had earlier gone on a drinking spree before returning home around 20:00 hours.
He disclosed that the couple later had a misunderstanding over the issue of the deceased’s second wife and the sharing of their daughter’s lobola.
“The disagreement prompted Mr Nyirenda Jackson to leave the matrimonial house and sleep in a smaller house nearby that was intended to accommodate his second wife. It was then that the suspect allegedly set the house on fire while the victim was asleep before fleeing from the scene,” Mr Mweemba said.
He said the victim was later rescued by his 16-year-old son, after he noticed the house engulfed in flames, but he had already sustained serious burns.
Mr Mweemba said officers have since apprehended the suspect, who is currently in custody to help with investigations and is expected to be formally charged and appear in court soon.
