Kimberly Kusauka
Two inmates from Ngomahuru Psychiatric hospital in Masvingo recently escaped from the mental health institution under unclear circumstances resulting in the death of one of the patients as he tried to cross Crocodile-infested Tugwi River.
It is reported that Kudakwashe Gomwe (22) from an unnamed location in Harare and Courage Mutsaru (27) from Makonde village under Chief Nemauzhe escaped before Mutsaru was allegedly seen by a villager being attacked by a crocodile in Tugwi River.
Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa acknowledged receiving a report of the incident.
“I can confirm that we have a report of that incident,” said Dhewa.
On January 22, Mutsaru and Gomwe were reported to have escaped from the hospital.
A nurse at the hospital reportedly received a call from a villager who said they saw someone wearing hospital attire trying to cross Tugwi River but they had witnessed him being attacked by a crocodile.
A search party was released and they could not locate the two.
A source who disclosed the information on condition of anonymity said the inmates escaped through the window after removing a burglar bar and went into the forest.
“These two men escaped on Saturday through the window and ran into the forest where they found their way.
“Mutsaru tried to cross Tugwi River and was spotted by villagers who were across. When they tried to rescue him, he was already caught by a crocodile which is believed to have eaten him alive,” said the source.
A source also said that these men have been at the hospital for a long time which was viewed as negligence by their family members over failure to visit them.
“These two men have been in the hospital for a long time and they maybe began to feel like their families no longer wanted them, so they escaped so that they could regain their freedom,” said a source.
There have been reports that inmates are allegedly complaining about food shortages, blocked toilets, staff shortages as well as lack of medication which triggers these kind of tragedies.
In 2021 Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital was slapped with a law suit by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) after there had been a water crisis which saw inmates having to bath at nearby Magwagwaza River.
