Kombi driver drowns

Weekender Reporter
A POOL side party at the recently re-opened Wise Owl Motel turned tragic last week after one of the revelers, high on alcohol, drowned in the pool in an attempt to cool off. Although details of the incident were sketchy at the time of going to print, witnesses to the event said the deceased Gift Murahwa (21) dived into the pool to join other revelers who were merry making in the waters.

He was found dead floating in the pool two days later by workers at the hotel who were doing their normal chores. Deputy Manicaland police spokesman, Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda, confirmed the death of Murahwa of House Number 1654 Chikanga 2 who was a kombi driver.

The police suspect no foul play as they were no visible marks on the body which showed otherwise. “Circumstances are that on October 19, 2015 at around 11am a security guard at the hotel, Loveness Ndemera (32) did his usual perimeter checks around the hotel premises to see whether there were any security breaches. While moving around at the swimming pool he found a suspicious object in the pool.

“He then contacted a colleague Clast Mlambo (31) who is employed as a grounds man at the hotel. They went and investigated after which they discovered that it was a dead person. A police report was made leading to the retrieval of the body from the pool,” he said.

Murahwa was buried last week. Business in Mutare’s Central Business District was brought to a standstill as hundreds of kombi drivers and rank marshals blocked traffic, accompanying their colleague to his final resting place. Traffic police officers had a torrid moment to control vehicles as those in the funeral procession defied road rules. As the cars hooted incessantly, rank marshals climbed on top of kombis, singing songs.