adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
Gweru mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombai’s disgruntled worker yesterday jumped to his death at his employer’s two-storey hotel balcony in protest over unpaid salaries. The employee from Clr Kombayi’s Lalapanzi gold mine only identified as Shoko had his brains splashed on the tarmac after he broke his skull when he fell headlong from the first floor.
Witnesses said Shoko stormed into the Midlands Hotel, owed by the mayor in Gweru’s CBD at about 11am, demanding to meet management over his undisclosed outstanding pay.
He reportedly got angry when he was told that Kombayi was not at the hotel and decided to take his life by throwing himself onto the tarmac.
When the news crew arrived at the scene police were collecting Shoko’s body from the blood-stained scene and putting it on a truck.
Witnesses said Shoko decided to take his life by throwing himself onto the tar from the balcony of a hotel room-where he had been offered to take a rest while management tried to get in touch with Clr Kombayi and the hotel’s general manager-both of whom who were said to be out of Gweru.
“He had complained that he was not feeling well and wanted his money to go and see a doctor. He was then offered an executive room at the first floor to rest,” the witness said.
“After grabbing the keys, he locked himself inside and went behind at the balcony where he then committed suicide by throwing himself to the ground headlong.”
A vendor who also witnessed the incident told Chronicle:
“Shoko died instantly after throwing himself on the tar from the first floor. I was here selling my wares when I told my friend to have a look at the now deceased’s intentions after noticing his suspicious moves at the balcony,” said the witness.
“In the twinkling of an eye I saw him throwing himself on the tar headlong. When we rushed to the scene he was already dead with the brains splashed on the tarmac after sustaining serious head injures.”
Midlands Hotel general manager, Rickie Dabvu confirmed the tragic incident but said he was not in Gweru to give full details.
“I only got the sad news that one of our mine employees committed suicide by throwing himself from the first floor at the hotel through a phone call. I am not at work today and will only be in a position to give full details on the unfortunate incident tomorrow (today),” he said.
Clr Kombayi could not be reached for comment as his cellphone repeatedly rang unanswered.
Online Reporter