Coach Rambo Brings Closure To Ruti Dam Drownings After Police Search Stalls

The search for four family members who drowned in Ruti Dam has ended in heartbreak, after the last three bodies were pulled from the water by renowned diver Victor Kazembe – better known as Coach Rambo.

The family died last Saturday when their fibreglass canoe capsized on Ruti Dam as they tried to cross from Gutu to Buhera. They were heading to Ndyarima Business Centre to catch an early bus to Harare.

Modreck Rufu had been ferrying his sister, Tecla Rufu, and her two children, Peacemaker Zvoushe and four-year-old Moreblessing, across the roughly 500-metre stretch of water.

They set off at around 2 am after telling a local fisherman, Silas Mukombe, of Mbwedza Village, Chief Mazuru, of their plans. The canoe overturned shortly afterwards, throwing all four into the dam.

Moreblessing’s body was found floating just hours later by fisherman Thomas Gojo, of Chief Nyashanu’s area. She was taken to Murambinda Mission Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.

But the search for Modreck, Tecla and Peacemaker dragged on for six days. The Zimbabwe Republic Police Sub-Aqua Unit from Changadzi searched without success, prompting the family to call in Coach Rambo.

Working with the police team and other emergency responders, he recovered the remaining two bodies on Wednesday and Thursday this week. That brought the grim tally to four and closed one of the longest recovery operations at Ruti Dam.

Family spokesperson Prince Chikonzo said the bodies of Tecla Rufu, Modreck Rufu and Peacemaker Zvoushe, all from Rufu Village under Chief Mazuru, Gutu, were finally retrieved.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi also confirmed the tragedy, saying no foul play is suspected.

The incident has left relatives, friends and the wider community in mourning.

Acting Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said it once again highlights the dangers of crossing water bodies at night without proper safety measures.

Coach Rambo rose to prominence after recovering three bodies from a sewage pond in Budiriro, Harare, a few weeks ago.

He described the Budiriro dive as the most disturbing in his 16-year career. For that operation, businessman Wicknell Chivayo rewarded him with two vehicles and cash after he waded into thick sludge with only an emergency oxygen tank to recover the bodies.

More: The Manica Post