SENIOR COP FOUND WITH GUNSHOT WOUND, SUICIDE SUSPECTED

MANZINI – The Manzini Police Station Commander, Dumisani Dube, was found dead with a gunshot wound in his head yesterday morning, in a suspected suicide.

The station commander, who was referred to by many police officers as a down to earth person and a problem solver, was reportedly found kneeling beside a coffee table in his house at Coates Valley. Impeccable sources claimed that the senior police officer had walked into the Manzini Police Station on Saturday afternoon and gave an instruction that certain officers should prepare for him his Monday lecture. The sources claimed that after instructing the officers, he left the police station and went to his residential place. They claimed that he had indicated that he would return to the police station when leaving, such that the officers had tried to contact him through his mobile phone several times.

Unanswered

It was reported that the mobile phone rang unanswered. The means to get Dube were said to have continued yesterday morning and still his mobile phones rang unanswered. This was said to have resulted in some officers driving to his compound to deliver the occurrence report. However, it was gathered that when they arrived at his compound and knocked on the door, there was no response. The sources said there were suspicions that he had travelled using one of his vehicles as only one was found within the compound. They said the officers dialed Dube’s phone and they heard it ringing unanswered, which prompted them to peep through the window. The sources claimed that when they peeped through the window, they saw Dube’s body kneeling besides the coffee table.

They claimed that on the coffee table was an opened Bible, his house keys and mobile phones, while on the floor laid his service pistol.  Thereon, the sources said the officers reported what they had seen and were further advised to get a close relative of the deceased to open the house. It was said the station commander resided with one of his children at Coates Valley. Some police officers said there were suspicions that the senior police officer might have committed suicide. However, they wondered what could have prompted him to engage in such as he had stood strong at the height of killings targeting police officers, as most who were killed were under his supervision.

Other officers had suspicions that his demise was not suicide; however, they were baffled on how the killer could have gained entry into the house and locked while leaving its keys inside. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that a police officer was found dead in his house. She said they were still investigating the circumstances leading to his demise and could not delve much into the incident.

On the other hand, the family of the late senior police officer said they were informed about his death yesterday morning. According to the relatives who were found at Dube’s homestead, which is situated at Mpolonjeni in Mbabane, the news of his death was conveyed by a team of high ranking police officers, who came to the homestead at around 8am yesterday. According to one of the relatives identified as Make Dlamini, the high ranking law enforcers who arrived at the homestead said they were sent by the national commissioner of police. She said the senior police officers then informed them about Dube’s death, how his body was found. According to Make Dlamini, the police officers told them that at the moment they could not say more as they were currently investigating circumstances leading to his death.

Investigations

“For now as a family, there is nothing much save to say that we are still waiting for the conclusion of police investigations.  As family, we are still shocked,” said Make Dlamini, who was interviewed in the presence of the other family members who concurred with her. One of the relatives, who was said to be the deceased’s sister, failed to control her emotions immediately she entered the gate leading to the homestead as she wept uncontrollably.  The sister, Ntombi Dube, had to be soothed by other family members who were also in a sombre mood. Some members of the community said they were also shocked about the passing of Dube, whom they described as someone who was down to earth and God fearing.
“It is unbelievable, Dube was a people person and was willing to assist whenever he can,” said one of the residents. Some of the residents alleged that they last saw Dube in town a few weeks ago and he was in a jolly mood as usual.

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