adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A six-year-old Bulilima boy has been found hanging from a tree in a bushy area two days after being reported missing. Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda confirmed the incident which occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Bambadzi area. He said police suspected the boy was killed before he was hanged on the tree.
He said the body of Tumelo Ndlovu was discovered by a neighbour who then alerted the Ndlovu family.
“Sign Nkomo, who is also from Bambadzi area, was in the bush collecting firewood when he came across the body of six-year-old Tumelo hanging by a rope from a tree. He recognised the boy and alerted his family,” said Asst Insp Sibanda.
He said Tumelo who was a Grade One pupil at Bambadzi Primary disappeared with a woman yet to be identified.
“Tumelo was in the company of classmates Clevison and Ronald Sibanda when they met an old woman in a bushy area on Monday.
“The woman called Tumelo by name and told him to follow her to collect some sweets and money from her homestead. The woman identified herself as the boy’s relative.
“The boy followed the woman and his friends proceeded home. That was the last time he was seen alive. His family searched for him and they filed a missing person’s report,” he said.
Asst Insp Sibanda said adult footprints were seen around the tree on which Tumelo was hanged.
“We have not made any arrests and we are waiting for postmortem results to ascertain the cause of death.
“We are however treating the incident as murder,” he said.
Online Reporter