Jambezi man crushed to death by wall
Victor Sibanda
VICTORIA FALLS-A 62 year old man from Nemananga Ward in Jambezi, under Chief Shana’s jurisdiction was crushed to death by a wall earlier this week during renovation of a classroom block at St Michaels Mbizha Primary School in Jambezi.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Glory Banda confirmed the tragedy. He said the deceased, Misheck Ncube, was part of a team renovating a classroom block with fellow villagers at the school when the walls of the block collapsed on him. One other elderly villager escaped with minor bruises.
“I can confirm that the deceased, Misheck Ncube, was using a four pound hammer to raze down the walls of a classroom block at around 7am. In the process, the walls collapsed on him. He was extracted from the rubble by colleagues who ferried him to Lukunguni Mission Clinic where he was referred to the Victoria Falls Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival,” said Banda.
A sombre atmosphere has gripped the entire ward as residents battle to come to terms with the misfortune.
” As a routine in communities, residents were requested by community leaders and the school to help with the renovation of the block as we wish to use it for our secondary children next year. Unfortunately, tragedy struck,” said councillor of the area Christopher Sibanda, adding that as the wall was collapsing the youths fled but the deceased failed to escape due to age.
A family spokesperson who requested to remain anonymous blamed local leaders in the area who enlist the services of elderly persons to do risky tasks.
” A number of elderly people were working on the collapsed structure. A 63 year old man escaped death by a whisker as the falling bricks bruised him. The leadership should encourage youths to carry out such tasks ,” said the spokesperson. He said the entire family was devastated.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s remains will be buried at his home in Nemananga 1 today. He was a widower and is survived by five children.
