Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 November 2009
Harare — A 23-YEAR-OLD man from Beitbridge linked to a spate of car smuggling and fraud syndicates shot himself dead next to the Limpopo River at the weekend as police were closing in on him.
Charles Nharingo Venge of House 570 Baobab Street here was on a warrant of arrest for defaulting court. He was facing three counts of fraud after he allegedly smuggled four cars into the country using fake customs clearance documents.
It is reported that on the fateful day, Venge returned home from South Africa where he had been hiding.
He went to his brother Felix's house, and told him that he was living for an unknown destination, before he drove to the Limpopo River, in his Toyota Hilux, which he parked about 50 metres from the river.
Venge then sent some text messages, using his mobile phone, to four friends telling them of his intentions to take his own life.
He also told them where they would collect his body and vehicle. One of his friends went to the scene where he spotted the car.
Venge had locked himself inside and had the driver's window slightly opened.
As his friend tried to restrain him from killing himself, the other three friends arrived but this did not help, as Venge shot himself dead while his friends watched. A report was later made to the police who subsequently opened the truck and retrieved his body.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukomborero confirmed the incident.
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