A 43-year-old Zimbabwean national, Simbarashe Tikere, has been accused of setting fire to another man's farm, causing extensive damage and reducing some of the property to ashes. Appearing before the Kanye Magistrate Court on Monday for a charge of arson, the prosecutor informed the court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
However, Magistrate Reuben Sebetlela questioned the urgency of bringing the case to court before completing investigations.
When asked about the circumstances of the case, the prosecutor explained that Tikere suspected his wife, who was employed by the complainant, Israel Murerwa, of having an affair with her employer.
Allegedly driven by jealousy, Tikere set fire to Murerwa's property. The total value of the burnt property is estimated at P27,900.00, including bags of fertilizer, water pumps, pesticides, blankets, seeds, and other items.
Magistrate Sebetlela stressed that arson is a serious offense, and that the value of damaged property alleged seemed high. He ordered Tikere's passport to be checked as part of the bail considerations and noted that his residence permit was about to expire.
Tikere was further remanded to address the issue of his residence permit before his bail application could be considered.
Tikere claimed that he had always been warning the complainant to stay away from his wife for the past two to three years, adding that he had seen phone conversations between the two, which he
believed confirmed they were having an affair.
Tikere stated that his wife had confessed to being involved with Murerwa, who is also a Zimbabwean national, and that Murerwa was unwilling to end the relationship.