HARARE — A five-year-old child and their two-year-old sibling died in a suspected arson attack in Harare following a domestic dispute between their parents, police said on Monday.

The children, Aldine Muyengwa and Ropafadzo Muyengwa, were asleep when the room they were in was allegedly set on fire by their father, Gift Muyengwa, 24, in Eastview Phase 10, Mabvuku, during the early hours of Sunday.

Police said the incident happened at approximately 2:30AM and is being treated as a double homicide.

Police said Muyengwa allegedly attacked his wife, Tsitsi Zuze, 22, with a knife before she fled to seek assistance from neighbours.

“The wife managed to escape and sought help from neighbours before reporting the incident,” national police spokesperson commissioner Paul Nyathi said.

“Upon her return, she found the cabin cottage engulfed in flames and the bodies of the two children burnt beyond recognition.”

Cabin where the children slept was burned to the ground

Police said the suspect was subsequently found outside the burning structure with injuries and was taken to hospital, where he remains under police guard.

Nyathi appealed to families experiencing conflict to seek assistance before disputes become deadly.