Man drowns on way from beer drink

A DRINKING spree ended in tragedy for a 76-year-old Madlambuzi area man after he drowned in a pond in Bulilima District.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Nkosilathi Sibanda identified the deceased man as Butho Dube.

Dube's younger brother Witness Dube, 52, said his brother went missing on Wednesday and his body was discovered after two days.

"My brother left his homestead on Wednesday morning and as usual he passed through a bottle store for a few drinks but he never returned home. His friends told us that they parted with him at the bottle store around 9pm.

"He was a heavy drinker and I assume that he was too drunk on the day which explains why he slipped into the pond or why he failed to avoid it," said Dube.

Added Dube: "I was alerted by neighbours on Friday morning and I found him dead in the pond. We had made several efforts to locate him on Thursday and we even made a report to the police." Ass Insp Sibanda said Dube's body was discovered by a young man who was herding cattle.

"Qondani Nkomo who is aged 16 was herding cattle on Friday near Ngwalala pond. He saw Dube's body floating in the water and he alerted other villagers.

"We do not suspect any foul play. Investigations have shown that Dube was drunk and he lost his path and fell into a pond which was covered by tall grass," said Ass Insp Sibanda.

He said the post mortem was waivered by Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon.