Jumbos trample cop to death

There was an unusual noise that could be heard outside the tent which is a base for the ZRP Support Unit, Mutare Central and members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) 3.3 Reserve Force Battalion in Chipinge who are on border patrol duties along the porous Mozambique – Zimbabwe border. 

Deployed there was Sierra Troop from Changadzi District.

The late Constable Prince Dambe (24) of ZRP Support Unit Changadzi Sierra Troop was also with others relaxing on their makeshift beds clad in his uniform – the riot blues. But the noise outside their camp called for some investigation as it was unusual and had been heard quite some time.

“It sounded as if somebody was touching the roof of the tent,” said one of the base mates in a statement.

The first thought that came in the mind of the tent occupants was that some people were up to no good and they had to investigate.

The ZNA Corporal Kudakwashe Maizivei who was part of the crew decided to check the source of the noise. He used the light on his cell phone and then opened the flap of the tent to look outside and only to come face to face with the huge mammals right in front of him at the entrance of the tent.

The light might have also frightened the elephants as they trumpeted and the corporal made good his escape through the side of the tent injuring his leg in the process. He warned the late Constable Dambe before running towards his other colleagues who were seated by the fire some 15m away from the tent and together they all fled in a northwesterly direction into the bush.

The late Constable Dambe whose bed was the furthest from the entrance at the back of the tent had first taken the warning call as a hoax since elephants had never come there whilst they were on duty later escaped through the side of the tent and made good his escape southwards following the military track that passes through the base towards Forbes Border Post.

The elephants later left the camp and walked in a south-westerly direction down an adjacent vehicle track and showed no interest either in pursuing the colleagues and Cst Dambe. From the tracks and signs later followed by Park and Wildlife Management officials and the police officers at the scene concluded that Cst Dambe, having run down the military track, decided to go back to their sub-base using a footpath ran straight into the two elephants that had later diverted the route to go towards the military track coming in the opposite direction.

But the late Constable Dambe’s colleagues never thought such could happen as they after regrouping, found him to be missing.

Sergeant Francis Mapako who was the Rimayi Base Commander at the time of the attack says they only heard the elephants trumpeting thrice after they had left their base.

“I think that is the time they were attacking our colleague he reminiscences. Instead we feared that he might have crossed into Mozambique and got captured given that he was putting on a uniform,” says Mapako.

 “We made several searches in the area at first light the following morning and still his spore somehow vanished at some point along a footpath. That is when Corporal Maizivei climbed further on the hill and found his lifeless body about 500 metres away from the sub-base where he had intended to go.”

The death of Constable Prince Dambe of ZRP Support Unit Changadzi District will forever be etched in the minds of his colleagues as it came in a most gruesome and unusual way.

Even when The Outpost visited the camp in Mutare, his colleagues were yet to come to terms with the tragedy which took which robbed the police of a young police officer who was just two months in marriage.

Troop Commander Sierra Troop, Inspector Lucky Phiri says it was difficult to accept what transpired on the day in question.

“The young man died a painful death and the scene of the incident resembled a battlefield with blood all over the area. You could not take a second look at the body as he had several injuries on the head, ribs, and legs. He was semi-naked with some of his apparels –riot jacket and trousers in tatters,” recalls Inspector Phiri.

“The incident was just unfortunate, added Insp Phiri. “Initially the late Cst Dambe had been very safe only to run into them after he decided to use the short cut to our sub-base on the other side of the mountain. He must have been very tired when he ran into them given that he had run for almost two to three kilometers to the point where he was attacked,” he said.

According to a press statement issued by Cecil Kop Nature Reserve Management, which is headed by Mike Histchmann, the two elephants had escaped from the Thompsons Vlei Section of Cecil Kop Nature Reserve through a place where there were two flexible electric wires.

 “These two wires had been removed by unknown persons probably close to or just after dark on 18 July 2017. … we are assuming that the wires were removed by smugglers who frequent that specific path from Mozambique and who have been creating havoc with our eastern border fence line for some time,” read the statement in part.

According to the spore, it is said the two elephants walked down the military track which is used for patrols along the border in a southerly direction for around 2km before stopping outside the Rimayi Base Camp where members from ZRP Support Unit, Mutare Central and ZNA Members were based.

Meanwhile, the two elephants were shot by the state wildlife authority after the animals were classified as problem animals. The meat was harvested and sold through local butcheries and the income both from the sale of the meat and their hides will be ploughed back into Cecil Kop Nature Reserve.

The late Cst Dambe was born on 24 November 1993 in Buhera District. He did his education at Murambinda B in Murambinda before proceeding to Kwenda Mission in Hwedza. 

He was attested in the force on 3 October 2013 trained for six months in Morris Depot whereupon his completing of training, he was posted to Support Unit where he furthered his training and was posted to Sierra Troop in July 2014. He has been stationed there since then and was doing border patrol duties, anti-smuggling, escorts, public order management, anti-smuggling, guard duties among many other police duties.

He was described as a principled young man who was dedicated to his duties.

“The late Constable Dambe was a principled young man who was devoted and dedicated to his duties, the gap left by member will be difficult to fill not only to his family but to the organization.

“His death shocked everyone  in the district, we hope time will play its curative role and give us strength during this dark hour,” said Acting Officer Commanding Support Unit Changadzi District, Superintendent Fredrick Mutandwa in a eulogy he read on behalf of the Commissioner-General of Police.

Cst Dambe was laid to rest in Dambe Village, Chief Nyashanu, Buhera District.