Three children drown in Kuwadzana

THREE children drowned while swimming in a disused shaft in Kuwadzana, Harare, on Saturday afternoon.

One of the children was aged 10, while two were aged 11.

They were playing in the disused shaft allegedly left open by Harare City Council workers.

Due to the heavy rains that fell across the country, the shaft is now filled with water and the boys took advantage to swim.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident last night.

“The trio was playing in the shaft allegedly left by Harare City Council in Kuwadzana 5, in the Paddocks area. The shaft is filled with water. Reports are that at first they would go in the shaft one at a time. But they decided to jump in all of them, that is when they drowned.

“Their parents started looking for them the whole night, but could not locate them. The following day, a Harare City Council employee found some clothes at the scene and also one of the bodies was floating,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said police were informed and two more bodies were retrieved. He urged the public to avoid water bodies, particularly this rainy season.

“This is a sad incident. We urge the public to always avoid water bodies.”

One the boys had just finished writing his Grade 7 examinations.

Residents with houses around the shaft have expressed concern and want it closed.

Meanwhile, a two year-old girl drowned in an open septic tank in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza, recently.

“The ZRP reiterates its call for parents and guardians to closely monitor their children, especially during this rainy season. On December 10, 2020, in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza, a 2 year old girl drowned in an open septic tank after she was left playing alone in the yard,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

In a related case in Bulawayo, on December 11, 2020 a 12-year boy went for swimming at Cement Dam, Fairbridge in the company of his friends.

He subsequently drowned after failing to swim.