By Jones Gadama
Kasungu police have launched an investigation after an unidentified man was discovered dead in a forest near Kasungu Dam in Kasungu Municipality. The body, which had already started decomposing, was found on Tuesday by forest guards during a routine patrol of the area.
Steve Jere, one of the guards who made the discovery, said he and his colleagues stumbled upon the body while inspecting the forest.
“We were doing our normal patrol when we noticed a strong smell. On moving closer, we saw the body of a man lying on the ground. We immediately informed our supervisors,” Jere explained. The supervisors quickly reported the matter to Kasungu Police Station.
Officers from the police, accompanied by medical personnel from Kasungu District Hospital, rushed to the scene and retrieved the body.
Police spokesperson Joseph Kachikho confirmed the incident, saying the man appeared to have died several days before the body was found. “At this stage, we cannot confirm his identity because he had no identification documents on him. The body was already in a state of decomposition,” Kachikho said.
According to medical officers who examined the scene, several empty alcohol bottles were found scattered around the body.
Initial observations suggest that excessive alcohol consumption combined with lack of food could have contributed to the man’s death. “From what we saw, it is possible that the man drank heavily and had nothing to eat, which may have led to his demise.
However, we are waiting for a full postmortem to establish the exact cause of death,” said a health official who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
Police have appealed to members of the public who may have a missing relative to come forward and help identify the deceased.
They have also urged residents living near the dam and surrounding villages to report any information that could assist with investigations.
Kasungu Municipality has recently recorded several cases of unnatural deaths linked to alcohol abuse, raising concern among local leaders.
Traditional Authority Kaomba said communities need to be sensitized on the dangers of excessive drinking. “We are losing many people, especially men, to alcohol. It is sad that someone can die alone in the bush without anyone noticing for days,” the chief said.
Meanwhile, the body has been taken to Kasungu District Hospital mortuary pending identification and postmortem examination. Police say investigations are ongoing and have called for calm as they work to trace the man’s relatives.
