Man falls, dies at bottle store

A Bulawayo man suspected to have been drunk, died after falling and hitting his head on the ground soon after buying a pint of beer at Emaqhageni bottle store in Nkulumane 12.

The incident which has left Nkulumane residents dumfounded happened on Sunday at around 8:30PM.

The Chronicle news crew visited the bottle store yesterday and imbibers - visibly shaken by the death of their drinking mate Promise Nkomo, were still to come to terms with what happened.

The barman at the bottle store refused to comment on the matter.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, some imbibers at the bottle store said Nkomo who worked for the Bulawayo City Council arrived at the bottle store at around 8:30PM as usual but appeared to be very drunk.

Residents said Nkomo was a regular patron at the bottle store.

"We were standing here (outside the bottle store) when he arrived and went into the bottle store. He came out holding a pint of beer and proceeded to where some guys were playing snooker," said one of the imbibers.

He said the next thing Nkomo was on the ground on his back.

"It could have been because of his drunken state that he fell backwards hitting his head on the ground," he said.

The witness said they lifted him up, carried him to one of their vehicles and rushed him to Mpilo Central Hospital.

"We took him to the hospital where they told us that he was no more," said the other man holding back tears.

Chronicle visited Nkomo's residence were mourners were gathered but they refused to grant interviews.

Police sources confirmed receiving a sudden death report involving a Nkulumane man who collapsed and died.