Drowning Cases Surge as Zim Battles Heavy Rains

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Reporter

At least 20 children have drowned across Zimbabwe since the onset of the 2025 rainy season, prompting authorities to raise alarm over the rising fatalities. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and Civil Protection Unit have urged the public to exercise extreme caution near water bodies as relentless downpours continue to swell rivers and streams.

In the latest incident, the Bulawayo Fire Brigade launched a desperate search for a three-year-old boy swept away by flash floods in New Lobengula suburb on February 13. The toddler is believed to have fallen into a storm drain and was carried away by raging waters.

Despite extensive efforts by firefighters and residents, thick vegetation along Luveve Road hampered the search.

Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Mhlangano Moyo, confirmed the ongoing operation, stating that teams were combing both the drainage system and a nearby stream where the child’s body was feared to be trapped.

In a separate tragedy, four children—aged between nine months and four years—drowned in Gokwe on February 22 after being swept away by floodwaters while sheltering under Tare Bridge along the Gokwe-Siabuwa Road.

Midlands Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, said the children were part of a 20-member apostolic sect congregation that had sought refuge under the bridge when surging waters caught them by surprise. He explained that while the parents and other adults managed to escape, the children were tragically swept away.

The bodies of three children were recovered up to 20 kilometers downstream, while search efforts for the fourth victim continue.

In Matabeleland North, an eight-year-old boy from Nhlangano Village in Tsholotsho District drowned while attempting to cross the flooded Godzo Stream. His body was later retrieved from the Gwayi River after an extensive search by villagers and the ZRP sub-aqua unit. Tsholotsho District CPU chairperson, Mr. Aaron Gono, emphasized the importance of vigilance during the rainy season.

He acknowledged the efforts of local communities in responding to disasters but urged parents to closely supervise children and educate them about the dangers of flooded rivers.

A similar tragedy occurred in Chinhoyi, where 12-year-old Wallace Kavhukatema drowned while swimming in the Hunyani River. Acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Effort Chapoto, confirmed that the boy struggled to stay afloat before vanishing beneath the water. His body was later retrieved and taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Authorities have reported additional drowning cases in different parts of the country. In Rockview Park, Zimre, a 12-year-old boy drowned in an unsecured three-meter pit left by a Chinese mining company. In Goromonzi, seven children perished in a dam between November 2024 and January 2025. In Zvishavane, two children drowned in an abandoned chrome mine pit in Ngwaro Village, while in Buhera, two five-year-olds from Mudinzwa Village were swept away in a local stream.

With drowning cases on the rise, the ZRP has urged parents and guardians to exercise caution during the rainy season.

Assistant Inspector Chapoto stressed the need for heightened vigilance, urging parents to monitor their children’s movements and ensure they stay away from flooded rivers, dams, and unsecured pits.

The CPU is stepping up safety awareness campaigns to prevent further loss of life. Communities have been advised to avoid crossing flooded streams, secure abandoned mining pits, and implement stringent safety measures to protect children from drowning hazards.

Weather experts predict continued heavy rains in the coming weeks, raising concerns that more lives could be lost. Authorities are urging communities to remain vigilant and prioritize safety to prevent further tragedies.