A 76-year-old widow from the Harare suburb of Greencroft has been left homeless after an attempted break-in allegedly triggered a fire that destroyed her house and all her belongings last week.
The fire broke out in the early hours of 13 May, the morning after suspected robbers reportedly tried to force their way into the home of Gogo Vaida Murahwa through the roof.
“Just after midnight, I woke up for my morning prayer. As I was praying, I heard some noises from outside,” Gogo Murahwa told ZBC News.
“People were trying to get inside the house, but they could not because of the burglar barricades on the windows and doors.
“After failing to enter, they climbed on the roof and tore the solar and inverter cables.
“When we opened the door where we lock the solar battery and inverter, black smoke gushed out.
“That is when we realised the house was on fire. We just watched the flame consume every corner of the house.
“The fire brigade only came around 12 in the afternoon, way after everything was destroyed.”
The fire reduced the house to ashes, leaving Gogo Murahwa and her daughter, who has an intellectual disability, with neither shelter nor possessions.
Gogo Murahwa, who lost her husband in August 2025 and is currently battling several health complications, said the tragedy has left her devastated and deeply uncertain about the future.
“I have lost everything, even the clothes I am wearing came from a well-wisher. I stay with my daughter with intellectual disability, and I have some health complications, so this has been a major blow for me,” she said.
“Who will carry the burden of housing my daughter and me? The chances or possibility of my rebuilding this house are very slim. Where do I get the capacity? My husband died in August.”
Over the past few weeks, a gang of armed robbers has been terrorising Harare West, targeting homes, schools, and churches.
Despite three of the suspected robbers being captured on CCTV, the gang remains at large.
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