adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
HERDSMEN from Ndolwane area in Bulilima District stumbled upon human remains in Mabhongwane grazing area while they were searching for their cattle.
The three herdsmen reportedly found the decomposed body of an unidentified man in a bushy area on Monday afternoon. It was lying close to blood- stained tattered clothes .
Headman Ndolwane said the herdsmen, who are from his area, notified other villagers of their discovery.
“Remains that are suspected to belong to a man were discovered by villagers from my area. Three men were searching for their cattle in a bushy area of Mabhongwane grazing area. Villagers normally drive their animals into the grazing area for days and collect them afterwards. These young men said they found a human skeleton and next to it was a worn out shirt and trousers which were covered in what appeared to be blood,” said Headman Ndolwane.
He said village elders who gathered to inspect the scene concluded that the person could have been killed by an animal or animals while in the bush.
Headman Ndolwane said while the clothes were worn out, they were still recognisable.
He said the clothes were taken to five different families in his area that had relatives who went missing over the past years but none managed to identify them. “The identity of the deceased man remains unknown. We were hoping that he could be one of the people who disappeared from our area but he isn’t. Word has even spread through the community about this discovery but no one has come forth to claim the remains.
“Now it’s not even certain whether this person is from our community or someone who was just passing through,” said Headman Ndolwane.
The remains of an old woman from the same district were recently discovered in a nearby area 10 years after she had disappeared.
Tests that were conducted revealed that the remains belonged to Nkazana Mpala of Manguba area who disappeared at the age of 80 in December 2005 while collecting mopane worms with other villagers.
Her remains were discovered by a cattle herder at Maitengwe Concession area. The old woman’s nephew, who is also a traditional leader of the area, Headman Manguba, said they buried the old woman after it was ascertained that the remains belonged to her.
Headman Manguba said the old woman was collecting mopane worms in the company of other villagers when she wandered away from the group. Villagers conducted a search for several weeks but failed to locate her. A number of people have reportedly disappeared in the past within the Maitengwe concession area and Mabhongwane grazing area as the two areas have thick bushes.
The bodies of some of the missing people have not yet been discovered.
Online Reporter