News / National
Kids in Bulawayo stumble on fully loaded gun
05 Dec 2024 at 17:23hrs | Views
What began as a harmless game of cops and robbers in Entumbane, Bulawayo, took a chilling turn when a group of children stumbled upon a fully loaded pistol buried in the ground. The potentially dangerous incident unfolded on November 25, 2024, but a tragedy was averted due to the firearm being jammed with rust.
An 11-year-old boy from Emakhandeni suburb made the shocking find near the Woza-Woza turn-off. Playing with his friends, he noticed a strange object sticking out of the ground. Curiosity led the group to unearth a black star pistol partially buried in the soil.
"Fortunately, the gun was jammed from rust and could not fire," said a source familiar with the incident.
Initially mistaking the weapon for a toy, one of the boys took it home. It was only after his older sister inspected it that the true nature of the discovery became clear.
Bulawayo provincial police deputy spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the incident.
"Police promptly arrived at the scene to secure the weapon and begin their investigation into its origins," she said.
Authorities praised the family's quick thinking in reporting the matter, emphasizing the importance of such vigilance in ensuring public safety.
The discovery has left Entumbane residents alarmed, raising questions about how the weapon came to be buried in a public area. Police have launched investigations to trace the origins of the gun and determine whether it was linked to any criminal activities.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in unexpected places and highlights the need for community members to report suspicious findings to the authorities immediately.
Assistant Inspector Msebele urged the public to exercise caution and stressed the importance of educating children on what to do if they encounter potentially dangerous objects.
"This could have been a very different story if the firearm was functional," she said.
The community remains relieved that the incident ended without harm, but the unsettling discovery has underscored the pressing need for vigilance in ensuring neighborhood safety.
An 11-year-old boy from Emakhandeni suburb made the shocking find near the Woza-Woza turn-off. Playing with his friends, he noticed a strange object sticking out of the ground. Curiosity led the group to unearth a black star pistol partially buried in the soil.
"Fortunately, the gun was jammed from rust and could not fire," said a source familiar with the incident.
Initially mistaking the weapon for a toy, one of the boys took it home. It was only after his older sister inspected it that the true nature of the discovery became clear.
Bulawayo provincial police deputy spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the incident.
"Police promptly arrived at the scene to secure the weapon and begin their investigation into its origins," she said.
The discovery has left Entumbane residents alarmed, raising questions about how the weapon came to be buried in a public area. Police have launched investigations to trace the origins of the gun and determine whether it was linked to any criminal activities.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in unexpected places and highlights the need for community members to report suspicious findings to the authorities immediately.
Assistant Inspector Msebele urged the public to exercise caution and stressed the importance of educating children on what to do if they encounter potentially dangerous objects.
"This could have been a very different story if the firearm was functional," she said.
The community remains relieved that the incident ended without harm, but the unsettling discovery has underscored the pressing need for vigilance in ensuring neighborhood safety.
Source - The Chronicle
