Police: A woman died after being allegedly set ablaze by her husband.

A woman from Solwezi died after her husband allegedly doused her in gasoline and lit her ablaze following a domestic argument. Getrude Kanema, age 47, of the Kaina Mfumu neighborhood in Solwezi was treated for severe burns at the Mwinilunga District Hospital Female Ward after her husband Patrick Sangunja, age 40, allegedly doused her in…

A woman from Solwezi died after her husband allegedly doused her in gasoline and lit her ablaze following a domestic argument.

Getrude Kanema, age 47, of the Kaina Mfumu neighborhood in Solwezi was treated for severe burns at the Mwinilunga District Hospital Female Ward after her husband Patrick Sangunja, age 40, allegedly doused her in gasoline and set her ablaze.


The dead left her spouse at home on June 11, this year, to visit a neighbor, according to a statement from North Western region deputy police commanding officer Robison Moonga.


“The husband also locked the house and left with the keys. When the husband came back home, he found his wife waiting outside the house. For this reason, they picked up a quarrel which made the suspect furious and poured the wife with petrol he had come with on the face and later set her ablaze until she became unconscious,” he said.


According to Mr. Moonga, Sangunja extinguished the fire when he noticed that his wife had fallen asleep.

The next day, he accompanied her to Solwezi General Hospital, where she was admitted. According to him, Sangunja became frightened during this time when he learned that his wife would be having surgery.


As a result, according to Mr. Moonga, Sangunja chose to select his wife, who was in severe condition, and snuck out of the Kabompo Female Surgical Ward.


“From Solwezi, he booked a vehicle and travelled with the wife to Kawiko village in Mwinilunga District and while at this village, Mwinilunga police picked information from the reliable source that there was a woman who was nursing severe burns at the village,” he said.


Mr. Moonga claimed that when the wife was rushed to Mwinilunga District Hospital, where she was admitted, the suspect Sangunja was captured and brought to the police station.

“Unfortunately, August 25, in the morning the victim passed on. Currently Sangunja is remanded at Mwinilunga correctional facility awaiting to be charged with murder,” he said.


Mr Moonga said upon a thorough inspection of the body,it was discovered that the deceased  had severe burns on the face, upper arms and chest.


He said the body has since been deposited in Mwinilunga District Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem.