By Takudzwa Nderere
A CHIPINGE woman drowned when the makeshift canoe she and others were using to cross the flooded Save River capsized recently.
Police confirmed the death of Chipo Muyambo of Shumba Village in Buhera who drowned on her way to Gudo area to get land for resettlement.
Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda said Muyambo left home on her way to Gudo where people were being allocated land for resettlement.
“She found Save River in flood. Muyambo, together with four other villagers, sought the help of Sabane Sithole, who usually helps people to cross the flooded river with his home-made canoe.
“Muyambo and other villagers jumped into Sithole’s canoe. As they were sailing to the other side of the river, the canoe capsized. They all panicked and tried to swim to the riverbank,” he said.
Asst Insp Chananda said Muyambo failed to swim and drowned.
Her colleagues tried in vain to rescue her.
Asst Insp Chananda urged people not to swim or cross flooded rivers as they risk losing their lives.
In a separate incident, a Chipinge girl (8) died after falling in a pit latrine recently.
Asst Insp Chananda said Sakile Mahara of Machona Village in Chief Garahwa’s area died after slipping into the toilet pit.
He said Violet Mahara left her two children aged six and eight playing at home while she went to the fields.
“Sakile was playing near an open toilet pit. The pit had water in it and Sakile slipped into the water and drowned. Nobody came to her rescue and she died.
“When Mahara returned from the fields at around 6pm she asked for Sakile’s whereabouts and was told that she had slipped into the open pit. She went to the pit and found her body floating in the water,” he said.
Asst Insp Chananda urged parents not to leave their children unattended. He also urged people to close all openings as they are fertile grounds for mosquito bleeding.
