Student killed 'in hit, run accident'

A LUPANE State University student was found dead along the Victoria Falls- Bulawayo road just opposite the university campus in Lupane on Sunday in a suspected hit and run accident.

Kudakwashe Phiri, 24, a student on internship at AC Control Company, one of the firms undertaking construction works at the university, could not get help on time as one of the first people who saw him on the road at around 4AM thought he was performing a stunt favoured by some robbers who fake to be victims, only to pounce on Good Samaritans.

A university director supervising construction works at the institution, Howard Ndlovu, confirmed Phiri's death. He referred further questions to the construction company saying he could not comment as the incident occurred outside the university's premises.

An AC Control Company official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Phiri had been on internship for only two months. He said a female employee at the university discovered Phiri's body on her way to work.

A source said there are questions on whether it was a hit and run or a suicide that led to the intern's death. The source said Phiri had not complained of any specific problems that could have led him to take his own life.

"It's also possible that he had too many drinks resulting in him being hit by a motorist who decided to flee from the scene. Pieces from a vehicle labelled 'Nissan NP' were found near him indicating he may have been hit by a Nissan," said the source.