Kadoma businessman drowns as boat capsizes

Two people — one of them a prominent Kadoma businessman — drowned at the weekend after their speed boat capsized in Darwendale Dam. Businessman Rufaro Nyamupingidza (42) and his colleague, Andrew Machana (age not given), drowned at around midday on Saturday.

The Police Sub Aqua Unit was still searching for Machana’s body at the time of writing. Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday said Nyamupingidza’s body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for post-mortem.

“On September 11 at around 1200 hours, the two went fishing using a speed boat, but it capsized,” he said. A National Parks Management Authority official, Mr Walter Kamunjari, discovered the boat while fishing and made a police report.

A search was conducted leading to the retrieval of Nyamupingidza’s body. Nyamupingidza was a farmer and operated several retail shops, a restaurant and an abattoir in Kadoma. He is survived by his wife and three children.

A family friend who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday said burial arrangements would be announced when the body was returned from Harare. Mourners are gathered at Number 20 Mushana Avenue in Kadoma.

“He (Nyamupingidza) was a very good man and a gentleman. We are all shocked by his sudden death,” the family friend said.