A member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Gwanda drowned at Mtshabezi River while fishing last week.
The deceased was identified as Sergeant Maware.
His body was retrieved from the river three days later.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incident to CITE.
“Police are investigating a case of sudden death where a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police drowned at Mtshabezi River while fishing,” Insp Ndebele said.
“A Sub-Aqua unit came on August 28 and the body was retrieved around 3pm. A post-mortem that was carried out shows that the cause of death was due to drowning.”
A source who spoke to CITE on condition of anonymity said some of the deceased`s belongings were found at the river bank.
“His clothes, a bag, fishing rods and a motorbike had been seen at the banks of Mtshabezi River since August 25 where he was last seen fishing at around 3pm,” the source said.
“When the police went to the river on August 27, they found the stated belongings save for the fishing rods.”
Insp Ndebele dismissed a media report that the deceased officer drowned while taking a bath in the river.
“The issue which was reported recently by some publication had misguided facts. Here in Gwanda we have not gone for over 24 hours without water. Neither was the late officer near his wife or children when the tragedy occurred,” clarified Insp Ndebele.
“The person who informed the police actually saw his fishing rods there; he had gone to the river to fish. How he ended up in the water still remains a mystery which the police are investigating.”
