Man dilutes opaque beer with spirits, dies

Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
A 26-year-old man from Chiredzi died on Monday last week after consuming opaque beer diluted with a 43 percent alcohol content spirit.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said Thembelani Shumba of 2559 Makondo Extension in the town collapsed after consuming a mixture of double punch and opaque beer with his friends Tinashe Muvori (35), Niko Manhondo (25) and Tapiwa Mhiriri (20).

“On 11 July around 11am, Shumba and his friends were drinking double punch mixing it with opaque beer at their home. They then went out to a construction site near Chiredzi new rank drinking their beer. When they reached Chiredzi light industry near Map Garage, Shumba fell down,” he said.

Insp Dhewa said he was rushed to Chiredzi District Hospital by Owen Vimisai (36) where he was pronounced dead.

The matter was reported to the police and investigations are under way.

Meanwhile, two people died in a road accident that occurred in Masvingo at the 110km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge highway when a Honda Fit collided with a white Iveco truck.

“On Monday 12 July around 7pm at the 110km peg, a black Honda Fit which had two people on board tried to overtake an unknown truck and collided with a white Iveco driven by Mhangarani Jesekia.The Honda Fit was dragged for about 50 metres. The driver of the Honda Fit and the passenger died on spot,” said Insp Dhewa.

He said the bodies were taken to Neshuro District Hospital and the driver of the truck sustained no injuries.

“When overtaking, drivers should be on the lookout for oncoming traffic to avoid accidents. They should overtake when it is safe to do so,” he said.

At the beginning of the month, 20 people died when an overloaded Toyota Granvia travelling along the Masvingo-Zvishavane Road, burst a tyre and collided head-on with a Toyota Wish.

The accident happened near Chitowa Business Centre in Mhandamabwe. Of the 20, 18 people died on the spot while two died on admission to Zvishavane District Hospital.