MUTARE — A 32-year-old domestic worker from Chief Marange has been sentenced to an effective 26 months in prison after setting his employer’s property on fire following an argument over unripe oranges.
According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the incident occurred on June 27, 2026, at Chindoti Village in Marange.
The NPA said the accused became enraged after his 64-year-old employer reprimanded him for eating oranges from her orchard before they had ripened.
The prosecution said: “The offender, who was employed as a domestic worker, became angry after his 64-year-old employer ordered him to stop eating unripe oranges from her orchard.”
Following the altercation, the man allegedly set a thatched kitchen hut ablaze before moving on to a two-roomed house and setting it on fire as well.
The NPA added: “Following the argument, the offender went on to set fire to a thatched kitchen hut. He then proceeded to a two-roomed house and lit it up again.”
In a bid to stop anyone from extinguishing the flames, the domestic worker allegedly armed himself with an axe.
The statement says: “To prevent anyone from saving the property, he took an axe and threatened to kill anyone who dared to put off the fire.”
The blaze destroyed the two buildings and property valued at US$10,193, including 16 bags of maize, five bags of groundnuts, two bags of round nuts, two bags of rapoko, four bags of fertiliser, six bags of cement and household groceries.
The Mutare Magistrates’ Court convicted the man of malicious damage to property and sentenced him to 36 months’ imprisonment.
However, 10 months of the sentence were suspended on condition that he reimburses the complainant for the full value of the damaged property, leaving him to serve an effective 26-month jail term.
In its statement, the NPA reiterated its stance on crimes involving destruction of property, saying: “NPAZ will continue to ensure that offenders who destroy people’s property and livelihoods are held fully accountable.”
