A two-year-old girl drowned in the Pungwe River in Buwu Village, Chief Mutasa’s area of Honde Valley, on 22 April.
Sarah Matepo was on her mother’s back in the early hours when her mother, Cynthia Nyakunhuwa, 27, tried to cross the river on her way to Marimbita Village.
Nyakunhuwa slipped on a rock and lost her footing, and both were swept into the fast-flowing water. The wrapper securing Sarah came undone in the current, separating the child from her mother.
Nyakunhuwa was thrown to the riverbank, injured and in shock, but Sarah was carried away by the water.
She raised the alarm in Marimbita Village. Workers at the Pungwe B Hydro Electric Power Station closed outlet valves to help the search, while villagers combed the riverbanks.
Sarah’s body was found several hours later on the riverbank.
Police who attended the scene noted bruises to the child’s head and left cheek, and a small cut near her right eye.
The body was taken to Hauna District Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem. Investigations are continuing.
The acting Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson for Manicaland Province, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, urged the public to take extreme care during the rainy season.
“People must avoid crossing flooded rivers and dams. The rains are not yet over, and communities are encouraged to use designated safe crossing points such as bridges,” he said.
More: Midweek Watch
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