Six schoolgirls have died after a fire swept through a homestead in Chipinge, in eastern Zimbabwe, during Saturday night. The fire broke out at Pferedzai Homestead in Bamhamire Village, under Chief Mutema in the Musani area, Ward 4 of Chipinge District, Manicaland Province. The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the deaths and said it was investigating the circumstances. The names of the girls had not been officially released, and police did not say which school they attended.

Police believe the fire was triggered by a gas explosion, according to reports from the scene, where pictures showed charred household goods and zinc sheets hanging awkwardly after the roof was completely consumed by the blaze. The police said the cause had not yet been formally confirmed and that a further statement would follow on Monday. The deaths have plunged Bamhamire Village into mourning, with the loss of six schoolchildren in a single incident shocking the community in Chipinge and beyond.

A recurring danger in Zimbabwean homes

The Chipinge tragedy comes against a background of repeated deadly fires in Zimbabwean homes, schools and veld. Many households use a combination of energy sources for cooking, heating and lighting, including firewood, charcoal, paraffin, gas, candles and electricity, and the use of several sources in one household increases the risk of fire, especially at night when occupants are asleep. Gas fires and explosions have been linked to leaking tanks, faulty regulators, damaged pipes and tanks stored inside rooms or close to open flames.

Other common causes cited by the authorities include candles and paraffin lamps left burning during power cuts, faulty electrical wiring, braziers taken into closed bedrooms, and flammable materials stored inside sleeping areas. Separately, veld fires remain a seasonal threat: during the fire restriction period from 31 July to 30 November, the Environmental Management Agency recorded 2,301 fire incidents that burnt 754,017 hectares as at 30 October 2026, a 22 percent reduction in incidents and area burnt compared with the same period in 2025, although fire-related deaths in that period doubled from three to six.