Sunday Mail Reporter
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has appealed to members of the public to help identify 11 bodies, all male, that have remained unclaimed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Mortuary, in an effort to reunite the deceased with their families and give them a dignified burial.
In a statement on Friday, police national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the bodies were from different locations and circumstances, including road traffic accidents, mining accidents and unexplained deaths.
The deceased include those whose identities are known, as well as several others whose names remain unknown, with police hoping that details of their physical appearances, clothing and the locations where they were found will help relatives, friends and members of the public recognise them.
Among the identified deceased is Enock Manuel, 54, who was found dead in Harare’s Central Business District on August 2, 2026. He reportedly had no fixed abode and was wearing blue work-suit top and brown trousers.
Another identified victim, 35-year-old Shandreck Sithole, was found dead at Hillside Squatter Camp on August 21, wearing black track bottoms and a grey T-shirt.
The list also includes Promise Chigwida, approximately 21, who died after being trapped in a mine shaft in Mazowe on October 12. He was wearing a green T-shirt and grey track bottoms.
Several of the unidentified bodies were recovered from particularly distressing circumstances.
One unidentified man, estimated to be 30, was found floating in Mazowe Dam on September 18.
Another, believed to be around 60, was discovered dead in a maize field in Westgate Area D, near the railway line, on August 13.
Police are also seeking relatives of a man estimated to be 60, who was found dead at Robert Mugabe Square on August 20.
Two other unidentified men, believed to be approximately 30 and 28 years old respectively, died in separate road traffic accidents.
One was involved in a fatal accident along Whitwell Road in Borrowdale, near Pakugara Estate, on August 30, while the other died in an accident at the 12-kilometre peg along Murewa-Mutawatawa Road on the same date.
The appeal further covers another man who died after being trapped in a mine shaft in Mazowe. He was found on September 7.
In another case, the decomposed body of an unidentified man, estimated to be 35 years old, was discovered in a bushy area at Beta Bricks Field in Mt Hampden on September 7.
He was wearing a black T-shirt and black track bottoms.
Comm Nyathi appealed for public assistance, urging anyone with information that could help establish the identities of the deceased to come forward.
“Members of the public who may have information that could assist in identifying the deceased are urged to visit Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Mortuary, report at their nearest police station or contact the National Complaints Desk,” Comm Nyathi said.
The public can reach the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or send information via WhatsApp on 0712 800 197.
Police are urging anyone who may have lost contact with a male relative or knows someone whose whereabouts have been unknown since the dates and locations outlined to assist with the identification process.
