Zimbabwe: National Police in Mashonaland East Province is investigating a case where a boy aged 12 from Murehwa was found dead in a vending cooler box.
As per the sources, the young boy disappeared on February 03, 2024 when his father left him playing outside with his friends at Musami Business Centre.
The father – Golden Gorembeu reported that he returned from a business trip to Bindura after which he found that his son was missing.
According to him, his mother-in-law – Ester Mutetwa, who is a vendor at the same location near Musami Business Centre, raised the concern and told them that Arnold had not returned home.
Following the same, the search began as the locals and the police got involved but the boy Arnold was not found.
Later, around 8:00 p.m. at night, another son of Golden Gorembeu, who is seven years old – Genius Gorembeu, stumbled upon Arnold’s body in one of the vending cooler boxes.
Seeing his brother’s body like this was horrific and shocking for a seven-year-old boy. It raised concerns through the community and questions were raised by them about the circumstances that led to Arnold’s tragic demise.
The investigation of the incident is still in process as it is suspected that the cause of death might be suffocation. The cooler boxes are generally used for storing cold beverages, and it could have cut off the oxygen supply, making it difficult for Arnold to breathe.
Arnold hailed from the Murehwa community, which is now left grappling with the sorrow of losing a young boy’s life. The tragedy left everybody by directing everyone’s concern of vigilance in ensuring the safety of their children.
The vending cooler box now stands as a haunting symbol of the unimaginable tragedy that has fallen on the Gorembeu family. After going through this tragic event, the community is rallying together to support the family. The incident reminds the importance of child safety and the need for vigilance to ensure their well-being.