Jealousy man sets tuckshop on fire

Tinashe Mlambo and Hazel Chitepo A tuckshop owner, Agnes Gwenzi is lucky to be alive after her jealousy business partner set her enterprise on fire while she was locked inside after finding her with a rival suitor in the bedroom.

Agnes Gwenzi (34) was attacked by Julius Jena at Masiziwa Business Centre in Chimanimani.

Gwenzi lived in the same building that serves as a tuckshop, and operates a joint venture with Jena at an adjacent timber plantation.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident.

He said Jena set Gwenzi’s tuckshop on fire while she was locked inside.

The incident occurred on March 8. “Jena went to Gwenzi’s place to collect a spanner to fix his sawmill, and on arrival, he knocked on the door, but she refused to open the door. In a fit of rage, the accused person forced open the tuckshop and made his way to the adjoining bedroom.

“When he opened the bedroom, he saw Gwenzi in the company of her boyfriend known as Never, and became agitated. Gwenzi refused to open the bedroom door. Jena took a two-litre container of petrol and spilled it on the floor. Sensing danger, Never left the room. Jena locked Gwenzi inside the bedroom.

“Jena splashed the petrol all over the floor and lit a match-stick, setting the building on fire. He vanished from the scene. Gwenzi was trapped inside, and was saved by neighbours who heard her loud screams for help. She was rushed to Nyahode Clinic, while Needmore Mujoma from the same business centre reported the case to police in Chimanimani,”he said.

Gwenzi was later transferred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for further management. Police later arrested Jena and charged him with attempted murder.