Missing Zengeza boy found dead

A nine year-old boy, who was reported missing two months ago, was found dead in a well in Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza on Monday.

Nyasha Nyamutaka’s body which was at an advanced stage of decomposition was discovered 50 metres from his father Creaven Nyamutaka’s house. Builders discovered the body while they were digging down the well after they ran out of water at House No. 19999 Kushinga Road.

Nyasha was reported missing on January 14 by his mother Isabel Mandaza. His body was collected by the police after it was retrieved by fire fighters. Acting Provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Tarirai Dube, confirmed the incident.

“The missing boy was found dead in a well in Zengeza 4 and the parents positively identified the body. Investigations are continuing and the body was removed from the scene by the fire brigade,” added Assistant Inspector Dube.

Isabel and Creaven were in the crowd waiting for the retrieval of the body after suspecting that it could be their son. Creaven positively identified the body with the shirt he was wearing. Isabel said she consulted faith leaders over her son’s disappearance.

“After receiving a report that a body was found in the well, I quickly suspected that it could be my son for the place is close to his father’s house,” said Isabel.

“I took the son to his father after schools closed last year in December only to be told that he went missing and I reported the case to the police. I was suspicious after his father failed to make a report.

“I consulted faith healers comforting me that my son was still alive and I am still to accept that it is my son in this well. I left this place at midnight after the body was discovered as I waited for police to show us the body. I woke up early to witness the retrieval of the body,” said Isabel.

Isabel said she received anonymous calls threatening her with death if she continues distributing posters of her son after a police report was failed.

“After making a police report I distributed the poster of my son before I started receiving anonymous calls threatening me with death,” said Isabel.

“The person warned me to keep quiet about the story saying he was going to release the boy after they have finished their unexplained dealings.

“One day he forgot to hide the number and I enquired with the service provider and was told that the number was registered in about 250 different names with a Mberengwa address.

“The officials failed to handle me after I wanted further help over the mobile contract number,” said Isabel before the retrieving team arrived.

Creaven was sobbing as he waited for the retrieval with his relatives and he positively identified Nyasha.

“I am very sure that he is my son because those are the clothes he was wearing on the day in question,” said Creaven.

“He disappeared during the day as he was playing with his friends along this road,” he added.

The owner of the residential stand where the body was discovered, Michael Karima said that he was really disturbed by the incident after he had been gathering building material to construct his house.

“It disturbed me so much considering that I was collecting building material for some time to complete this house,” said Michael.

“I have been here two weeks ago before the rains poured and I never saw anything only to be told by my builders that they came across a human body. They were fetching water from the well before it went dry and they started digging to get more water before they discovered the body at around 3pm.

“I quickly made a police report and I have stopped all the construction as I waited for the police to remove the body,” said Michael.