Police in Matabeleland North have confirmed the drowning of four juveniles in two separate incidents in Hwange and Nkayi.
On October 26, 2023, three minors, Blessing Tshuma (8), Thandolwenkosi Tshuma (8), and Nkosilamandla Tshuma (4), all from Wafuka village under Chief Madliwa in Nkayi, drowned in a well dug by villagers on Kana River in Gwelutshena.
The trio had gone to play in the river when they decided to swim in the well, but drowned. Villagers retrieved the bodies the following day, one floating on top of the water and the other two trapped two meters deep in mud.
In the second incident, on October 29, 2023, Princess Kwibisa (17) of Change village under Chief Nekatambe in Hwange drowned in Lukosi River while trying to save her eight-year-old younger sister who had dived into the water trying to swim.
Princess was a pupil at Lukosi Secondary School. Her little sister was eventually saved by a 16-year-old juvenile they were with.
Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North Inspector Glory Banda said that the police are investigating both incidents and have appealed to members of the public to monitor their children closely when they are near water bodies.
