Masvingo – The family of a 21-year-old man is seeking justice after he was fatally shot by police, who allegedly mistook him for an armed robber, before leaving his body in a non-functional mortuary where it decomposed.
The victim, Shadreck Madzore, a social soccer player from Beitbridge, was returning from a funeral in Masvingo when the incident occurred. His body was later discovered at Masvingo General Hospital in an advanced state of decomposition.
According to reports, police officers in an unmarked Toyota Probox opened fire on a pick-up truck along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway on Tuesday. The vehicle, which had been flagged down near Rutenga, did not stop, as the driver suspected a possible robbery attempt. The region has seen frequent cases of highway robberies, making it difficult for motorists to differentiate law enforcement from criminals.
After a high-speed chase, the truck stopped at the Rutenga tollgate, where police arrested the driver and another passenger. Both were later released without charge.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he had not yet received an official report on the shooting.
Madzore’s family has condemned the handling of his remains, accusing authorities of negligence.
“As a family, we are disappointed because the police could have done better. His body was left on the floor of a mortuary without electricity,” said his uncle, Samson Madzore.
The family had to take emergency measures to preserve the remains for burial.
“We had to buy ice and put it in his coffin to slow down decomposition,” he added.
Further compounding their distress, the family claims police refused to assist in transporting the body to Beitbridge.
“They refused to carry his body and instead transported food for the funeral,” Samson Madzore alleged.
The incident has sparked calls for reforms in police operations, particularly the use of unmarked vehicles. Beitbridge councillor Takavingei Mahachi condemned the practice, saying it creates fear among the public and increases the risk of criminals impersonating police officers.
“This should be banned. It is common in Beitbridge, and it puts innocent people at risk,” Mahachi said.
The case has raised concerns about police accountability, with calls for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Madzore’s death.
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