Chief dies in inferno
BEREA — A village chief was burnt to death in Teyateyaneng last Friday.
Chief Motjoka Moabi, 32, was burnt beyond recognition in what his family suspect was an arson attack.
The chief’s brother, Khobatha Moabi, said he and some villagers tried to put out the fire by dousing the flames with buckets of water but their attempts failed.
Moabi said they called firefighters who failed to respond to their distress calls.
“As soon as we realised that the hut was on fire we phoned the police and began pouring water on the house,” Moabi said.
“The roof however quickly caved in,” he said.
The chief’s charred body was found lying by the door.
His brother said he had lost “a loving brother, friend and chief”.
“This feels like a bad dream, unbelievable. I just cannot see a way forward from here; this is a disaster,” he said.
Moabi said he believed someone torched the chief’s hut.
Inspector Keketso Nyooko of the Berea police serious crime unit said firefighters were called but he did not have information whether they went to the scene or not.
Nyooko said the chief was allegedly heavily drunk on the night of the mishap.
“We received reports that the deceased had been drinking on the night of the event,” Nyooko said.
Comment by Thoughts Provoking on 16 August 2012:
The Chief was heavily drunk on the night of the mishap… The house burnt down…! The only logical explanation of this tragedy is that the chief himself mistakenly burnt down the house, unfortunately burning down himself!
As for the firefighters, it is really not their fault that they didn’t respond on time, the truth is that Lesotho emergency system is altogether flawed, and unless we develop it, such tragedies are inevitable!
Qoops!
Comment by Mzalwane on 16 August 2012:
ke hokae mooo jwala bo kopaneng le mollo??!! condolences to da family but #$%@ happens! holima moo sebabole le mollo ha li ke kopane!!!
Comment by Motlotsuoa on 16 August 2012:
o tsebe hore ha maponesa ase are o ne a tahiloe ha ba sa tlo etsa lipatlisiso tse keneletseng, ache maponesa a lesotho etsang mosebetsi hleng pls
Comment by `MAMANKOE on 16 August 2012:
I am sorry for my chief. I feel very hurt to have lost such an important somebody who could not cease to assist us, people of Ha Motjoka with whatever the service we need. Che mosotho o re sejana se setle ha se jele. Leha eba Morena o ne a noele joala, I still insist that the police do thorough investigations. Those who were drinking with him that previous night must be interrogated, I think they might come with a clue to the cause of my chief’s death. I am so hurt. May his soul rest in peace as God at the same time heals his mother and the entire family. Molimo O boloke sechaba sa Ha Motjoka.
Comment by kompi on 17 August 2012:
Mzalwane a araba joaloka a typical drunkard. I belief he burnt himself dowm ka botawa. Joala ke moruo o malimabe, o hlola le baetapele. O ku utloe ngoana mokalo ha ese ele sekatana sa joala? ntho e mpe ea tsoeloa.
Comment by irene on 17 August 2012:
Such a bad thing calling our self chriastians but too easy to judge. We don’t even feel sorry for somebody life. Can we stop judgeing we don’t know the truth at the moment.khosi may your soul rest in peace.