Arson incidents reported in Zambia and Zimbabwe following domestic disputes

Two separate incidents of alleged arson involving family disputes have been reported in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In Ndola, Zambia, 51-year-old Dickson Mutepuka was arrested following an incident in the Twapia area. Police report that a domestic dispute arose while the suspect, his wife, and their son-in-law were drinking beer. The disagreement reportedly began when the wife prepared food for the son-in-law but did not serve her husband. The resulting fire destroyed the family home and all household goods, though no injuries or deaths were reported.

In Gutu, Zimbabwe, 20-year-old Rerai Mutambasere appeared in court facing charges of maliciously destroying property. He is accused of setting fire to his brother Pikirai’s kitchen hut following a dispute over a memory card. The fire destroyed a bed and various household items, with damages estimated at US$300. Pikirai managed to escape the structure before the fire spread.