Tshifhiwa Munyai (30) of Miluwani-Tshitangwe, near Sibasa, believes that the strong whirlwind (tshidumbumukwe) that destroyed the roof of his house, was sent by jealous people who do not want to see him and his family prosper.

"No other house was destroyed except mine. I strongly believe that this was the work of evil people who want to see me suffer. I am happy because no one was harmed during the incident," said the angry man.

Munyai, who was working as a labourer during the construction of the local tarred access road, used the little that he earned to build the four-roomed house.

With sadness written all over his face, Tshifhiwa, who is presently unemployed, told Mirror that the wind started at about 13:00 on Sunday afternoon. "It just started very fast next to my house and within some seconds, the whole roof was carried away. Thereafter, everything was quiet and it was unbelievable that there had been a strong wind just some few minutes before. Fortunately, there was nobody in the house when the tragedy struck. I strongly believe that we would have been injured by corrugated iron if we had been in the house."

He said he had to take some of his belongings to relatives while he shares the remaining room with the four members of his family. "That was all I could invest and I don’t know where I will get the money to replace the roof. I urge community members out there to help me because my two children, wife and mother are now sleeping in the open. I don’t know what will happen if it rains or if another strong wind comes."

Kind-hearted readers who would like to help the family can call 083 499 7603.