New details have emerged on the death of banker, Douglas Munatsi who perished to flames during the early hours of Monday morning.
According to reports, Munatsi had a visitor at his Harare luxury penthouse at 9PM Sunday, someone called Colleta (or close) who left at around 1AM.
At 2.50AM a neighbour says heard commotion and raced to balcony. Says Munatsi called out to him to call fire brigade.
Fire brigade was on the scene at 3.11AM, but they could not completely put out fire until about 5AM.
Munatsi’s penthouse is massive. Bedroom, where fire was concentrated, has a door leading to the balcony. When fire was finally put out, Munatsi’s body was found in bedroom.
There was no electricity at the time, which rules out electrical fault as the cause. Fire brigade is preparing report, and it’s understood they will likely conclude a candle may have caused fire.
What’s puzzling is why Munatsi would ask a neighbour to call fire brigade, while making no effort to escape. House has several exits, including one leading to the steps. The fire did not reach the kitchen – where he could have tried to hide.
Munatsi’s family says he has been receiving death threats in recent weeks, believed to relate to a report on “land barons” he sent to President Mnangagwa. Munatsi had an appointment with Mnangagwa at 7.20AM today.
The police, meanwhile, are believed to be leaning on the side that the fire was started deliberately, and that Munatsi had been “immobilised”, possibly drugged, to prevent him from escaping.
President Mnangagwa in a statement said circumstances of Munatsi’s death are “unclear.”