adminMidlands Reporter
A Bulawayo man was fatally assaulted by a gang of five men in Zvishavane town after he questioned one of the suspects’ reckless driving. The now deceased was almost knocked down by the vehicle which was being driven by one of the suspects.Police confirmed the incident and identified the deceased man as Mr Alous Makoteni (34) of Bulawayo.
Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said on 21
September at about 6.30pm, the now deceased Mr Makoteni stopped over in Zvishavane for undisclosed business while on his way to Bulawayo.
“While in Zvishavane, Makoteni was walking in Zvishavane Town when he was almost hit by a white BMW which was allegedly being driven by Efa Matongo who is also known as Mupostori.
Matongo stopped the vehicle and was challenged by Mr Makoteni who accused him of reckless driving. It is alleged that Matongo and four other suspects who were travelling in the same car, started assaulting Mr Makoteni with fists and booted feet. Mr Makoteni fell down and the suspects left the scene,” he said.
The Midlands police spokesperson said Mr Makoteni was taken to Zvishavane District Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
An assault report was also made at Zvishavane Central Police.
“Mr Makoteni proceeded to Bulawayo. While in Bulawayo, his condition deteriorated and was admitted at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
He died while admitted at UBH on Sunday, 29 September. Police are now treating the matter as murder and investigations are underway. The suspects are still at large,” he said.
Insp Mahoko appealed to members of the public to refrain from resorting to violence whenever they had disagreements. Meanwhile, police are investigating the death by drowning involving an 18-month-old baby which fell in a water well in Simana Village under Chief Malisa in Silobela.
The incident occurred at about 7am on Tuesday last week. Insp Mahoko said preliminary investigations revealed that the 18-month-old baby boy sneaked out of the kitchen where he had been in the company of his parents.
“The child headed for the well and fell into it. It is alleged that the baby’s parents heard a cry from the well and rushed to investigate. Efforts to retrieve the baby were fruitless. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and retrieved the body.”
“In another incident, a five-year-old boy died after allegedly drinking poison he found in a container which was dumped in a rubbish bin.
The incident occurred in Mbizo, Kwekwe at about 10.30am.
Insp Mahoko said the child picked up a closed bottle of Benlin cough syrup which contained a suspected cotton pesticide which is poisonous.
“The cough syrup container was in a rubbish bin. The boy, Unesushe Munengwa, went on to open the bottle and drank the contents. He started vomiting, discharging froth from the mouth and was seen by a neighbour who took him to his mother. The mother, with the help of neighbours, discovered an empty bottle containing a smelly liquid.
The boy was rushed to Kwekwe District Hospital where he died after an hour,” he said.
The matter was reported to the police in Kwekwe.
Online Reporter