Woman Given Community Service for Attempting to Burn Hubby and Children Inside House
Brenda Chinyanganya has been sentenced to a suspended five year sentence provided she performs 630 hours community service after setting fire to her Somabhula home while her husband and three children were inside.
Dumisani Ndlovu 
Somabhula — A 31-year-old Somabhula woman, Brenda Chinyanganya, has been sentenced to five years in prison by Gweru Regional Magistrate, Sibongile Marondedze, after setting fire to her family house while her husband and three young children were inside.
Chinyanganya was convicted of attempted murder and malicious damage to property after pleading guilty to both charges.
The court heard that the incident occurred at Stand No. 16, Sunrise, Somabhula just outside Gweru, during a marital dispute involving Chinyanganya and her husband, James Chamunogwa (42).
According to the State case, Chamunogwa returned home at about 4am on April 26, 2026 and was told by Chinyanganya that she no longer wanted the marriage.
Later that day, at about 8.30pm, Chinyanganya took some of her belongings and left the home.
She returned at about 4am the following day, telling Chamunogwa that she wanted to collect her identity document before leaving again.
The court heard that she returned moments later, opened a window, poured petrol into the house and set it alight using matches while Chamunogwa and their three children were inside.
The children were aged five years, two years and another young daughter (age not given).
Chamunogwa and the children sustained burns of varying degrees and were medically examined following the incident.
The State further alleged that Chinyanganya sprinkled petrol on the dwelling house and set it alight, resulting in the destruction of the house and property inside.
Among the property destroyed were foodstuffs, blankets, a wardrobe, a bed, diapers and a gold detector.
The total value of the property listed in the State's Form 162 was US$2,639.50, including US$656 for one room of the four-roomed house.
The gold detector alone was valued at US$1,100.
Chinyanganya pleaded guilty to both counts and was convicted accordingly.
In passing sentence, Regional Magistrate Marondedze ordered that the two counts be treated as one for purposes of sentence.
She sentenced Chinyanganya to five years' imprisonment, with three years suspended on condition of good behaviour and a further two years suspended on condition that she performs 630 hours of community service.
She is due to commence her community service at Bwanya Primary School, Masvingo on August 17, 2026.
