The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
THE current heat wave which has resulted in very hot temperatures has registered a casualty after a kombi driver who took his friend to cool off at the Mutare Main Bath swimming pool drowned in unclear circumstances.
Blessing Nyamajo (24) of House Number 1627 Chikanga 2 died on his way to Mutare Provincial Hospital following the drowning incident which took place on Sunday at around 3pm.
Manicaland police spokesman Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the case.
“The deceased was in the company of his friend, Cosmas Kunganga (21), who resides at Number 3779 Chikanga 2 when the incident occurred,” he said.
“The two friends went to Mutare Main Bath swimming pool to swim and cool off in these hot temperatures. While at the pool, the deceased dived into the pool and drowned. A life saver guard, Jealous Muzvongi (39) who is employed by Mutare City Council retrieved Nyamajo from the pool. At that time he had developed acute breathing problems. He was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.”
On Tuesday afternoon rank marshals and touts who went to Mutare Provincial Hospital mortuary to collect the body of Nyamajo in preparation for Wednesday’s burial caused commotion at the referral institution. One of the touts allegedly drove a kombi at the mortuary and crashed the vehicle after doing some race course stunts.
The kombi overturned and landed on its side.
Police officers stationed at the hospital police base failed to investigate the accident after hordes of touts manhandled them and shoved them off the scene.
The marauding touts quickly pushed the vehicle in their numbers back on its wheels and sped off.
Insp Kakohwa said the case was under investigations.
“Information at hand showed that our officers were barred from investigating the mortuary accident by rowdy touts and rank marshals who were covering up for their colleague who was driving the kombi. We however took down the vehicles number plate and investigations are in progress,” he said.
Insp Kakohwa urged members of the public to desist from obstructing police officers from carrying out their duties.
Instead, he said, the public must help the police arrest offenders.
Last week 14 touts were arrested by the police on obstruction of the course of justice charges after they barred cops and Zimra officials from confiscating goods that had been smuggled into the country.
