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10 April 2009
A MAN who died after being run over by a bus was a respected member of Nottingham's Zimbabwean community. David Mateku was a member of Zimbabwe's police force when he lived in the country's capital of Harare.
The 53-year-old was regarded as an "elder" of the community who could be turned to for advice.
Regis Manyanya, chairman of the Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network, said: "We are in a state of shock because we are in a foreign country and we have lost one of the people who we have been looking up to as an elder person, a brother, a father.
"We are in a state of shock. We would have wanted him to see through his life and possibly also he could have made a difference to some of the changes which are about to happen in Zimbabwe."
Mr Mateku leaves behind a wife, three sons and one daughter. His eldest son Godfrey, 31, is married and living in Brighton, and he also has sisters living in Croydon, London.
Mr Mateku moved to England in around 2000 to be with his wife, a student. The family lived in The Meadows but Mr Mateku had been living in a homeless shelter in the weeks running up to his death.
He was described by members of Nottingham's Zimbabwean community as a quiet, reserved and responsible man. "He was a family man who was also a God fearing Christian," Mr Manyanya said.
Although not an active member of the Movement for Democratic Change party, as many Zimbabweans living in Nottingham are, Mr Mateku did take an interest in the political situation in his country.
He came to England shortly after resigning from his country's police force, said Mr Manyanya, which meant Mr Mateku avoided being used by dictator Robert Mugabe to seize land from farmers,
Mr Mateku's family were said to be in total shock following his death on Sunday. The inquest into Mr Mateku's death opened at Nottingham Coroners Court on Wednesday. His address was given as Campbell Street, St Ann's.
The court heard he died after being run over, and he was pronounced dead at the Broadmarsh Bus Station on Sunday at 8.35pm. Notts coroner Dr Nigel Chapman said the cause of death was multiple injuries. The inquest was adjourned to a later date.
Nehanda Radio: Serving Zimbabwe since June 2006
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