Man Dies After Falling into Open Pit Dug by Masvingo Council Workers.

A Mozambican national, identified as Peter Pauro, died on Friday morning after falling into a deep open pit left by Masvingo City Council workers who were repairing a blocked water line along Zimuto Road in the R Section of Mucheke high-density suburb. The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who accused the council's Engineering Department of negligence .

Angry residents claimed that council workers had dug trenches and pits around the city and left them open and unbarricaded, posing a serious safety risk to the public. They questioned how a pit estimated to be about two meters long and nearly three meters deep could be left exposed along a residential road without any warning signs or barriers .

Masvingo Town Engineer Kudzaishe Mbetu confirmed the incident but dismissed claims that council workers were negligent. He alleged that the deceased was a drug addict and said the man did not accidentally fall, but deliberately plunged into the water-filled pit. However, journalists from Masvingo Mirror reported that they found no barricades or warning signs at the scene when they visited .

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa referred enquiries to national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, whose office said it was still gathering information on the incident .