A GOKWE family has for the past six months been refusing to bury their son who was allegedly killed by game rangers, insisting the alleged murderers must first confess. Report by Everson Mushava Chief Reporter
The deceased Lenon Nyoni Nkosana’s body has been lying uncollected at the Gokwe mortuary since June 13.
Lenon (26) of Chief Simuchembu’s area was allegedly shot at point blank range at his home by rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) based at Chizarira Game Park.
He is survived by a wife and two children.
His father Obert Nkosana yesterday told NewsDay he would only bury his son when Zimparks rangers agree to meet burial costs. The father claimed that on the fateful night, 10 Zimparks rangers stormed one of his son’s (Tanaka) homestead saying they wanted to interrogate him in connection with ivory poaching.
The rangers were reportedly in the company of two police officers from Chitekete Police Station.
“After they failed to find him there, they stormed my home and cordoned off one of the houses where five of my other sons were sleeping,” Nkosana said.
“They broke the door and after they failed to find Tanaka, they ordered everyone to lie down and started assaulting them demanding that they reveal Tanaka’s whereabouts.
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“Three of my sons fled the beatings while the rangers pursued them, shooting.”
After a while, Lennon, who remained lying on the ground in the bedroom attempted to check outside if any of his brothers who escaped were safe. Unbeknown to him, a lone ranger who had remained inside the yard opened a volley of gun fire and killed him instantly.
“He was shot once in the chest and died on the spot,” Nkosana alleged.
“The rangers had spent the day with Tanaka, but did not apprehend him, choosing to come in the dead of the night.
“To date, no parks official has apologised. The one who shot my son was only arrested and released on bail.”
Zimparks spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo said she wanted to check with the regional manager in the area before commenting. She was yet to come back to NewsDay at the time of going to press last night.
Meanwhile, yet another Gokwe family is also refusing to bury its relative whom they allege died under unclear circumstances at Chitekete Police Station last week.
Blessmore Moyo of Zhomba village in Gokwe reportedly died after he was dumped at the police station by his alleged assailants last Thursday.
“The police brought the body on Monday night and we refused to take it without an explanation on what caused his mysterious death,” said Kudakwashe Mutsetse, one of Moyo’s aunties.
“We have checked with the mortuary attendant and records show he was surrendered to the mortuary at 3:30 am on November 28 by police from Chitekete.”
Mutsetse said police from Nembudziya had arrested the seven men who allegedly assaulted Moyo and later dumped him at the police station.
“Police officers from Chitekete did not even tell us he was dead, instead, they told us he was in custody at Gokwe.”
Police spokesperson Andrew Phiri admitted Moyo died in police custody, but denied the police had a hand in his death.
“Police have arrested two people in connection with Moyo’s death,” he said.
“From what I have collected, he was a lunatic who was assaulted and handed over to police when he became violent.”
