A Bikita woman allegedly set on fire a bedroom hut in which her polygamous husband was sleeping with his second wife protesting prolonged denial of conjugal rights.
Shingai Mandivengerei, 34, of Zima Village under Chief Mukanganwi pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder and arson when she appeared before magistrate Judith Zuyu on Thursday and was remanded in custody to 21 July.
Mandivengerei is first wife to Tasara Zima, 39, the complainant of the same area.
She admitted setting the hut on fire but said she had no intention of killing the two.
“I didn’t tie the door of the hut in which the complainants were sleeping. The door was not locked but I admit that I set it on fire and I did it because I was angry,” said Mandivengerei.
Prosecutors say the sex-starved Mandivengerei woke up and torched the bedroom hut in which Zima and Mary Dzingai, 28, were sleeping at night.
“On Thursday last week, at about 8PM, Zima and Dzingai went to sleep in their bedroom hut. On the following day at around 01.30AM while the two were asleep, a jealous Mandivengerei who was sleeping in her bedroom hut, woke up and proceeded to where the two were sleeping,” said Moreblessing Rusere prosecuting.
“Upon reaching the hut, Mandivengerei allegedly tied the door from outside with a wire before setting the thatched roof on fire.
“Zima and Dzingai were lucky to escape unhurt after the former managed to break the door using an axe.”
