Mambwe woman sets self ablaze after finding ex boyfriend married A 28-YEAR-OLD woman of Eastern Province’s Mambwe District has set herself ablaze after finding her ex boyfriend married. The heartbroken Betty Phiri sustained burns on her hands and other parts of her body in the incident, which happened around 07:00 hours yesterday at Kapiri Songola […]

Mambwe woman sets self ablaze after finding ex boyfriend married

A 28-YEAR-OLD woman of Eastern Province’s Mambwe District has set herself ablaze after finding her ex boyfriend married.

The heartbroken Betty Phiri sustained burns on her hands and other parts of her body in the incident, which happened around 07:00 hours yesterday at Kapiri Songola Primary School.

Eastern Province police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba said Phiri had gone to the school earlier that morning to meet her former boyfriend, Donald Nyirenda, a 30-year-old teacher at the institution.

Mweemba said the two had previously cohabited until their relationship ended in June this year, after which Nyirenda relocated to Msoro and gave Phiri transport money to travel to Katete, where she has relatives.

He explained that Phiri later followed Nyirenda to Msoro in an attempt to reconcile, but the effort was unsuccessful.

In September, Nyirenda married Ethel Daka, another teacher at the school and the couple began living together at the institution.

According to police, Phiri arrived at the couple’s residence around 06:00 hours yesterday and introduced herself to Daka as Nyirenda’s wife before requesting to speak privately with him.

The three later agreed to move their discussion to a classroom to avoid involving the children.

But before the conversation could begin, Phiri is said to have pulled a plastic bottle containing petrol from her handbag.

A man identified only as Male Mbewe, who had transported her to the school on a motorcycle, noticed the smell and tried to seize the bottle.

During the struggle, petrol spilled onto Phiri’s hands and other parts of her body and then pulled out matchsticks from her handbag to set herself on fir

Mweemba said Nyirenda, who was standing by the classroom door, managed to put out the flames using a broom.

“Donald Nyirenda, who was standing by the classroom door, got a broom and managed to extinguish the flames of fire from her,” Mweemba said.

Phiri was rushed to St Luke’s Clinic, where she is receiving treatment.

Police have recovered the plastic bottle containing the remaining petrol as investigations into the incident continue.

By Kalemba

Chi Kondi November 2, 2026