By Maxwell Mapungwana
MARONDERA-In a suspected case of murder, police in Beatrice are investigating a case in which a man was found dead with his head decapitated lying about four metres from the rest of the body which was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
Police have since made a clarion call to members of the public who might be missing someone to visit Chitungwiza general hospital to identify the body.
Mashonaland East assistant police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Misheck Denhere who confirmed the incident to Chaminuka News said on October 15 this year at around 2PM, a Boronia Farm herd boy in Beatrice was driving out some cattle which had strayed into the farm when he stumbled upon a human head on a stream bank.
The man reportedly proceeded to Harage Police Base where he made a report.
“Police attended the scene and retrieved the head which was in an advanced state of decomposition such that the face could not be identified,” said Assistant Inspector Denhere.
He added that a search was then conducted leading to the recovery of the rest of the body believed to be aged between 25-30 some four metres away with its lower limbs submerged into the water whilst the upper part was above the shallow waters.
“The deceased was putting on a black of slim fitting jeans inside a gray dungaree, a black golf T-shirt and a khaki jacket without a zip,” he added.
Searches were made on the body, but no identification particulars were found and neither could locals identified him. To complicate the matter, Assistant Inspector Denhere said no report of a missing person had been made to the local police.
The body was later taken to Chitungwiza hospital for a postmortem while police investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Assistant Inspector Denhere is appealing to members of the public to desist from committing such heinous crimes, but to respect the sanctity of human life.
“We are also appealing to people who might have a relative missing with the same description to visit Chitungwiza mortuary hospital for identification. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this crime to report at ZRP Beatrice or any nearest police station,” Assistant Inspector Denhere.