Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
A Bulawayo man whose body was retrieved from a well at the Pumula North community gardens on Wednesday has been identified as a South African returnee who had spent 12 years in the neighbouring country before returning home last month.
The deceased, Mr Lincoln Maseko (34), returned to Zimbabwe on June 28 in the company of his live-in girlfriend. His body was recovered from a well by the Bulawayo Fire Brigade after he went missing on Tuesday afternoon, with his family alleging foul play.
The development follows the recovery of Mr Maseko’s body from the Pumula North ponds area on Wednesday morning, where an axe, jacket and a pair of shoes were also found near the scene.
Speaking at the scene, the deceased’s uncle, Mr Edwin Maseko, said Lincoln, who was on medication and required close supervision, left the family home unnoticed while his mother was taking an afternoon nap.
“He sneaked out of the house while his mother was asleep. When the father returned home, he was informed that his son had left and headed towards the community gardens, about 500 metres away through the bush. He immediately went to look for him but could not find him,” said Mr Maseko.
He said the father later found Lincoln’s jacket but did not immediately notice bloodstains nearby.
“As the family became increasingly concerned, we reported the matter to ZRP Pumula. The area is covered by thick reeds, is swampy and has several wells that residents use as a source of water for irrigating their gardens,” he said.
Mr Maseko said firefighters were called in to assist with the search and eventually retrieved Lincoln’s body from one of the wells.
“They also discovered an axe just a few inches from where the body was found. He had cuts on the head and we believe he may have been murdered,” he said.
When the Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene, officers from ZRP Pumula had already recovered the body and placed it in a metal coffin. Detectives from the CID Homicide section were also at the scene as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death continued.
Police are yet to issue an official statement, with Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele saying a statement will be issued once preliminary police paperwork has been completed.
