tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
FORMER Zimpapers employee and prominent Gwanda farmer, Mr Peter Patrick Dube (60), died last week after he was bitten by a black mamba in his orchard at his farm in Gwanda.
The incident took place last week, and he was buried at his rural home in the district on Saturday.
Mr Dube was the current president of Gwanda Commercial Farmers Union, and the chairman of Bubi Safari Operations.
“He woke up to his daily routine, tended his livestock first and then went to the garden where he proceeded to his orchard to pick mangoes and it is where he was struck by a black mamba,” reads part of his orbituary.
“He was rushed to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was attended to by doctors, while waiting to be transferred to Bulawayo where there’s anti-venom. Sadly, he passed on while waiting. He’s survived by his spouse and three sons and his proud family of the Huyabe Clan.”
Contacted for comment on the allegations that there was no anti-venom at Gwanda Provincial Hospital, which led to Dube’s death, Matabeleland South provincial medical officer, Dr Rudo Chikodzore said anti-venom was available in all the districts of the province.
“Anti-venom is available in the province as well as at Natpharm. Quantities in the province are usually based on consumption estimates from previous years of the same time to ensure that stock does not expires on us,” Dr Chikonzore said.
Cases of snakebites are rampant in the country during the wet season,
Plumtree and Gwanda typically record cases of deaths from snake bites mostly from the deadly black mamba.
Mr Dube worked for National Fencing in Bulawayo, Zimpapers Typocrafters in Harare and Alpha Media Holdings in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter