Domboshava Mechanic Found Dead in Car in Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | Harare

A 21-year-old man from Domboshava was found dead inside a parked vehicle in Harare's Graniteside industrial area in what police are treating as a suspected case of carbon monoxide poisoning. The deceased has been identified as Jairos Nzvimba, of Mandaza Village, Domboshava, who owned Laxline Panel Beaters. His body was discovered on Wednesday morning inside a white Honda Ballade parked at his workshop after he allegedly spent the night in the vehicle while trying to keep warm.

According to information gathered at the scene, Nzvimba had been repairing the headlights of a client's Toyota Quantum on Tuesday night before deciding to sleep in one of the vehicles at the garage. When his assistant, Samuel Kasambwa (26), arrived for work at around 7 am on Wednesday, he found Nzvimba lying motionless across the driver's and front passenger's seats. A charcoal stove was found inside the vehicle and was reportedly still emitting heat and smoke.

"He told me that he would sleep in one of the cars in the garage once he had finished fixing the headlights of the Toyota Quantum," Kasambwa said.

"On Wednesday at around 0700 hours, I arrived at work and found him lying on his back across the driver's and passenger's seats of a white Honda Ballade which was also parked at the garage for repairs."

"I tried to wake him and realised that he was not showing any signs of life. He was covered with a blanket."

Police suspect the charcoal brazier may have produced carbon monoxide, a colourless, odourless and highly toxic gas that can accumulate in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and cause fatal poisoning.

The matter was reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and a case was opened at Braeside Police Station under reference RRB 6940517. Nzvimba's body was taken to the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death. Police investigations are continuing.

Medical experts warn that burning charcoal, wood or other fuels inside enclosed spaces can produce dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide, which reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen to vital organs. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness and confusion before victims may lose consciousness without warning. Health authorities advise members of the public never to use charcoal braziers, generators or fuel-burning appliances inside vehicles, homes or other enclosed spaces because of the risk of fatal poisoning.

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