Kombayi’s employee commits suicide over salary

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
A man employed at Gweru mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi’s mine yesterday jumped to his death from his master’s two-storey hotel balcony in protest, allegedly over unpaid salaries. The employee from Clr Kombayi’s Lalapanzi gold mine only identified as Shoko had his brains splashed on the tarmac after he broke his skull when he fell headlong from the first floor.

Witnesses said Shoko stormed into the Midlands Hotel, owned by the mayor in Gweru at about 11am, demanding to meet management over his undisclosed outstanding pay.

He reportedly got angry when he was told that Kombayi was not around and decided to take his life by throwing himself onto the tarmac.
When the news crew arrived at the scene police were collecting Shoko’s body from the bloodstained scene and putting it on a truck.

Witnesses said Shoko decided to take his life by throwing himself onto the tar from the balcony of a hotel room where he had been offered to take a rest while management tried to get in touch with Clr Kombayi and the hotel’s general manager, both of whom were said to be out of Gweru.

“He had complained that he was not feeling well and wanted his money to go and see a doctor. He was then offered an executive room on the first floor to rest,” the witness said.

“After grabbing the keys, he locked himself inside and jumped from the balcony.”
A vendor who also witnessed the incident told Chronicle: “Shoko died instantly after throwing himself on the tar from the first floor. I was here selling my wares when I told my friend to have a look at the now deceased’s intentions after noticing his suspicious moves at the balcony,” said the witness.

“In the twinkle of an eye I saw him throwing himself on the tar headlong. When we rushed to the scene he was already dead with the brains splashed on the tarmac.”

Midlands Hotel general manager, Rickie Dabvu confirmed the tragic incident but said he was not in Gweru to give full details.
“I only got the sad news that one of our mine employees committed suicide by throwing himself from the first floor at the hotel through a phone call.

“I am not at work today and will only be in a position to give full details on the unfortunate incident tomorrow (today),” he said.
Clr Kombayi could not be reached for comment as his cell phone repeatedly rang unanswered.

However, a hotel official who declined to be named said: “This guy came here and said he was not feeling well and he wanted his money so that he could go to the hospital. We told him that both the director and the general manager were not around and he should come back tomorrow.”

The official said Shoko did not buy their excuse and kept demanding his money.
“We then told him that we can assist him with a room to rest since he said he was not feeling well and we sought to get hold of the general manager and the director,” said the official.

“All of a sudden we got an alarm that someone had committed suicide by throwing himself onto the tarmac from the back of the room.”
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko could not comment on the incident saying he was out of Gweru.

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