Residents of Mashamba and surrounding areas received the shock of their lives when the bodies of two people were found in the bushes on Saturday morning.

According to eyewitnesses, bullet wounds were seen on the bodies. The bodies were found lying dead near the bridge along the Mashamba-Mufeba road, and the police at Tshitale have opened an inquest docket.

According to the spokesperson of the police, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, the hands of the deceased had been tied behind their backs. "We have not yet arrested any suspects and therefore we have launched investigations. We are also appealing to members of the community to assist us in locating the suspect/s," said Mulaudzi.

All efforts to locate the deceased's relatives bore no fruit and their identities were still unknown at the time of going to press. According to Mulaudzi, the police are also investigating the possibility that the two were shot elsewhere and later dumped next to the bridge.

The police have appealed to anyone with information regarding the matter or anybody who can possibly identify the bodies to phone Detective W/O Moses Makhavhu at the Tshitale Police Station at 015 - 975 2084.