Horseplay ends in tragedy

A TOUT from Gweru died last weekend after falling on his back while engaging in horseplay with a fellow tout.

Shuvai Tembo (50), a popular tout at the Gweru-Zvishavane illegal pick-up point, was pronounced dead on admission at Gweru General Hospital.

Horseplay is rough play in which people push and hit each other.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands province, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mkwende confirmed the incident.

She said police had since picked up Tembo’s friend and another tout, Tavonga Kasawu (33) for questioning.

Asst Insp Mukwende said police were treating the case as murder.

“I can confirm police in Gweru are investigating a murder case where a 50-year-old man died after he was wrestled to the ground by a friend.

“We are treating the matter as murder and we take this opportunity to warn the public against engaging in horseplay, which might lead to unnecessary loss of life,” she said

A witness, Mr Charlie Moyo said the late Tembo fell on his back as he engaged in horseplay with Kasawu (33) while trying to kill time at their usual spot.

“The two were wrestling playfully when Kasawu then fell on his back. He could not pick himself up and when we later realised that he had injured himself, we called an ambulance, which took him to the hospital,” said Moyo who is also a tout.

Mr Moyo said Tembo died later on admission and his friend Kasawu was later picked by the police.

“It was an unfortunate incident. We are all shocked and did not expect this to end like that,” he said.