News / Local
Residents slam police over dumped body
14 Jun 2014 at 07:14hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO man whose body was found dumped in Makokoba on Tuesday has been identified as Zephaniah Ngwenya, 85, from Entumbane suburb.
Ngwenya reportedly went missing on May 30 and his decomposing body was found floating in Manwele River by young boys who were playing soccer near the area on May 10.
He was buried at West Park Cemetery yesterday.
It remains a mystery how the man died but indications are that when he got lost, a Good Samaritan found him and took him to Entumbane Police Station.
Neighbours accused the police of failing to do their job after the officers reportedly let him go on the same day only to be found dead in Makokoba.
A representative of Ward 10 councillor Gladys Masuku, Alec Hadebe, said the police were to blame for Ngwenya's death.
"As you all know Ngwenya was an old man who counted on the police to help him. I don't understand how the police let a lost person leave the police station at 10PM," said Hadebe.
Residents could not hide their emotions as they joined Hadebe in questioning the police's integrity on the issue.
Hadebe told mourners that he personally went to the officer-in-charge of Entumbane Police Station to seek clarification on the matter.
"I went to the officer-in-charge and he said the duty officer never told him anything. He apologised to me. If they had let Ngwenya spend the night at the station I think he would still be alive today," he said.
Hadebe further claimed the family was notified of Ngwenya's death by a police officer in Harare.
A family spokesperson, who identified himself as Mhlanga, said Ngwenya went missing on May 30 and they identified him at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) mortuary on Wednesday.
"I don't want to say much as police are still carrying out investigations and I am yet to consult some members of the family," he said.
Bulawayo Police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi said he was not aware of the incident and could not be drawn to comment saying he was out of office.
Ngwenya's corpse was found in an advanced state of decomposition with his skin peeling off and tongue protruding from the mouth, suggesting that the body might have been in the river for a number of days.
In the past months, bodies have been found dumped around the city.
Two bodies in an advanced state of decomposition were found on April 24 in Nkulumane 12 while another body was also found at Pelandaba cemetery on May 9.
Ngwenya reportedly went missing on May 30 and his decomposing body was found floating in Manwele River by young boys who were playing soccer near the area on May 10.
He was buried at West Park Cemetery yesterday.
It remains a mystery how the man died but indications are that when he got lost, a Good Samaritan found him and took him to Entumbane Police Station.
Neighbours accused the police of failing to do their job after the officers reportedly let him go on the same day only to be found dead in Makokoba.
A representative of Ward 10 councillor Gladys Masuku, Alec Hadebe, said the police were to blame for Ngwenya's death.
"As you all know Ngwenya was an old man who counted on the police to help him. I don't understand how the police let a lost person leave the police station at 10PM," said Hadebe.
Residents could not hide their emotions as they joined Hadebe in questioning the police's integrity on the issue.
Hadebe told mourners that he personally went to the officer-in-charge of Entumbane Police Station to seek clarification on the matter.
"I went to the officer-in-charge and he said the duty officer never told him anything. He apologised to me. If they had let Ngwenya spend the night at the station I think he would still be alive today," he said.
Hadebe further claimed the family was notified of Ngwenya's death by a police officer in Harare.
A family spokesperson, who identified himself as Mhlanga, said Ngwenya went missing on May 30 and they identified him at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) mortuary on Wednesday.
"I don't want to say much as police are still carrying out investigations and I am yet to consult some members of the family," he said.
Bulawayo Police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi said he was not aware of the incident and could not be drawn to comment saying he was out of office.
Ngwenya's corpse was found in an advanced state of decomposition with his skin peeling off and tongue protruding from the mouth, suggesting that the body might have been in the river for a number of days.
In the past months, bodies have been found dumped around the city.
Two bodies in an advanced state of decomposition were found on April 24 in Nkulumane 12 while another body was also found at Pelandaba cemetery on May 9.
Source - chronicle
