Accident victim foot still stuck in mortuary

The foot is still at the United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary, although its owner, a victim of a hit and run accident, was identified on 2 February.
The owner of the foot, Stephen Ranganai (52), was allegedly killed in a hit and run accident by Mr Ian Ndumiso Mkhaliphe on 29 January.
He was buried at his rural home in Chivi without the left foot on 31 January.
The accident happened near Comoil Filling Station in North End.
Ranganai’s foot was found at a bush near the UBH Opportunistic Infections Clinic two days later.
Mkhaliphe, who lives along Old Esigodini Road along which the foot was found, allegedly handed himself over to the police at Hillside Police Station on the night of the accident.
Relatives yesterday said there was a stalemate regarding collection of the foot at UBH because the Ranganai family wanted Mkhaliphe to explain how the foot ended up on the opposite end of town, about 10 kilometres from the scene of the accident.
“We met the Mkhaliphe family recently and we explained that we wanted to know all the details of what transpired that night. Ian, who was driving the South African registered Toyota Corolla that ran over Ranganai, could not give a satisfactory explanation,” said the relative who declined to be named.
“The boy ‘stammered’ through his story and he made several conflicting statements. He could not tell us how the foot ended up in a bush, because if it somehow got attached to the car after the accident and later fell off, it would have been found on the road. All we want to know is the truth,” said the relative.
Another relative said the accused is always seen roaming free around the city, driving a blue car.
“I thought the police were supposed to confiscate his licence after the accident, something is wrong here,” said the relative.
When Chronicle caught up with Ranganai’s widow, Mrs Junior Ranganai, she said there was something fishy about the way police were handling the case.
“I do not presume to speak for the family, but there are many unanswered questions. For instance, if the man who ran over my husband really wanted to give himself up to the police, why did he drive past Bulawayo Central Police Station, which is nearest to the scene of the accident, to Hillside? He must have friends there. I also want to know what really happened,” said Mrs Ranganai.
She said police had not told the family when the man will appear in court.
“They keep saying they are still investigating. I wonder what they are investigating because the case seems open and shut to me,” she said.
Mrs Ranganai said a family statement could be obtained from one of Ranganai’s sons, Mr Liberty Hanyire.
Contacted for comment, Mr Hanyire said he could not issue a statement to the Press without clearance from other family members.
“This is a private matter that we are handling according to our African tradition. I cannot confirm anything or say anything without consulting other family members. I might talk to you tomorrow if I get the go ahead,” said Mr Hanyire.
Ian’s father, Mr Mkhaliphe, said he had nothing to say on the issue.
“I have no story to give you because I do not know what happened. Ian is in the country but he does not have a phone that you can reach him on. The police took his passport to ensure he sticks around until the case is finalised,” said Mr Mkhaliphe.
The police spokesperson for Bulawayo, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, yesterday said it was not possible for police officers at Hillside to make cover-ups in the case.
“All traffic accidents in and around the city centre are investigated by Bulawayo Central Traffic Police. No matter where the case was reported, it would still be brought back to the central traffic office. Police at Hillside have no way of influencing the progress of investigations,” said Insp Moyo.
He said if members of the Ranganai family were not satisfied about the way a junior officer handled the case, they should approach the Officer-in-Charge of Bulawayo Central Traffic for redress.