By Rex Mphisa
A Beitbridge policeman died a few days after he fled from Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot from what he described as torture he could not take after 20 years in service.
The cop identified as Detective Sergeant Mulikwa died in a Honda Fit crash between Beitbridge and Bubi along the Harare Road although very little is known about his trip plan.
The officer commanding Beitbridge Police District Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube said he had been informed about the death but did not have details since he was out in Harare.
“I heard the news but I am away in Harare,” he said.
Information and pictures on social media indicate Mulikwa may have perished in an extensively damaged Honda Fit car that crashed along the Harare Road from Beitbridge.
Another message believed to be from him posted on social media suggested he had fled from Ntabazinduna Police Training Institute where conditions had been unbearable when he went for retraining.
Mulikwa in the message said they had been exposed to the cold after they were punished for escaping from camp.
“Tange tichidirwa mvura tiri pa square nechando ichi. So tambotiza paenda ma instructors kunora, tobva tapinda mu Barrack without permission saka tabatwa na 5 AM ndobva tatanga kudairwa mvura ne rev tiri 12 guys, tichi chinjaniswa ma instructors, uuuuum ndazvikoniwa na 0800 hours. Ndikati ndipei 71 zvikanzi vaifanira kukanda ku station kwako. Ndikati zvakanaka ini ndaenda. Guys ndatonhorwa uuuuum unofa ne pneumonia.(We had water poured on us at the parade square in this cold so we escaped when instructors went to sleep. We went into the barracks but were caught at 5am and they started pouring water on us changing us from instructor to instructor so I asked to resign and they said I should have done that at my station so I left. I couldnt do it, I failed. I feared dying of pneumonia because I felt very cold),” wrote the late Mulikwa.
Beitbridge Ward 3 Councillor Takaendepi Mahachi said he rose a bus with Mulikwa on his way to submit his resignation in Gwanda.
“We chatted and he was among us when we were stopped eight times between Beitbridge and Gwanda where there are several roadblocks,” said Mahachi.
No funeral arrangements or any further details were known about the man said to have been a very well know officer in Beitbridge.
He is said to have served for 20 years and had opted out.