Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
MORE than a week after a dead man in Bulawayo grabbed the headlines by “holding a Gwabalanda family hostage,” the body is still making news after police launched a full-scale hunt for his next of kin.
A family in the suburb endured nearly six hours of trauma on 12 August after they woke up to find an unknown man, dead, at their gate.
They could not leave the house to go to work as they would have to drive over the corpse.
Police eventually collected the body towards midday but the family’s day was already ruined.
Bulawayo Police Spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele told B-Metro no had claimed the body yet and appealed to anyone missing a relative fitting the description of the body to visit the
United Bulawayo Hospitals confirmed the incident was reported on 12 August 2026 at around 0730 hours.
“A male adult aged 50 of Gwabalanda was going to work when he came out of his yard and discovered an unknown male adult lying lifeless in front of the gate. He made a police report and officers proceeded to the scene,” Inspector Msebele said.
The deceased has not yet been identified.
“The now deceased was wearing a brown pair of shorts, a black T-shirt, a black jacket and black boots. He had bruises on the forehead and on both knees, and appeared to be aged between 30 and 40 years,” she said.
“His body was conveyed to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary awaiting post-mortem.”
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We appeal to members of the public with a missing relative matching the above description to contact ZRP Luveve on 0292 520 801-3 or visit any nearest police station or United Bulawayo
Hospital Mortuary for body identification,” Inspector Msebele said.
Some residents said they suspected the dead man could be from Emakhandeni suburbs or had relatives there.
“The last time we saw him alive was the night before he was discovered dead. He was drinking at a nearby bar and asked where he could board kombis to Emakhandeni. I think that is where he stays,” said a resident on condition of anonymity.
