Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
TWO South Africa-bound Chiredzi men were crushed to death by a train after falling asleep on the railway track.

According to police in Masvingo, the remains of Before Bhidiri (21) of Village 1, Kubasi, and Paison Chikwanya (24) of Village 6, Chahoba, Triangle were found scattered on the railway tracks by the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) engine-man last Tuesday morning.

Engine-man Mr Fanuel Mutakwa (38) of NRZ Compound discovered the remains at Muzhiwi Railway Halt in Triangle.

Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said the accident occurred on Tuesday last week at around 3:20am.

The remains of the deceased have since been taken to Collin Saunders Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

Inspector Mazula said on the fateful day, the two bade farewell to their parents and left for Muzhiwi Railway Halt to board a train to Rutenga on their way to South Africa.

On Monday last week, at around 8pm, Bhidiri and Chikwanya arrived at Muzhiwi Railway Halt and waited for the train, which was supposed to arrive at 10pm.

The two men, who had allegedly drank too much alcohol as they celebrated the New Year, waited beyond 10pm, but the train did not arrive.

The drunken pair reportedly fell asleep on the railway track and was later crushed by the train.

“An NRZ engine-man, Mr Mutsakwa, hooted when approaching Muzhiwi Railway Halt,” said Insp Mazula.

“He heard a collision impact sound and stopped, only to discover that there were two men who had been crushed to death.”

Insp Mazula said Mr Mutsakwa reported the matter at Triangle Police, who attended the scene.

Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man, David Matinyere, employed at Ancient City Lodge, about 30km from Masvingo City near the Great Zimbabwe monuments, drowned when he together with three colleagues jumped into a swimming pool to celebrate the New Year.

Insp Mazula said Matinyere, who together with his workmates, was drinking beer while listening to music, jumped into the swimming pool at 12 midnight.

She said he did not emerge from the pool, while the other three came out.

Insp Mazula said Matinyere’s colleagues — Clive Madungwe (22), Wislon Keyara (47) and Jane Rusike (20) — went to check on him the following morning at around 8am and found his body floating in the swimming pool.

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