The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
A SWIMMING expedition by three young boys in Rusape Dam ended tragically after one of them failed to swim and drowned last Saturday morning.
Lovemore Chikukwa (12) of Vengere was a Grade Six pupil at Rujeko Primary School. He was in the company of his two 15-year-old friends when tragic struck.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident, saying Lovemore’s body was retrieved on Monday morning by the police’s Sub-Aqua Unit.
He further warned members of public not to enter water bodies when they cannot swim. “On September 16 at around 11am, Lovemore Chikukwa who was in the company of his two friends aged 15 went to swim in Rusape Dam. It was during this process that Lovemore drowned.
“His two friends tried to rescue him, but failed. They rushed home and informed Lovemore’s mother about the incident. A police report was made and the Sub-Aqua Unit was summoned. They managed to retrieve the body on Monday. The body was taken to Rusape General Hospital for post-mortem,” said Insp Kakohwa.
He added: “We are appealing to members of the public, both young and old, not to enter water bodies when they cannot swim. We are losing many lives due to drowning. This can be avoided if people are responsible for their safety,” said Insp Kakohwa.
While the police dismissed any foul play, residents feel that there is a force behind the drowning incidents. There have been widespread calls for the cleansing of Rusape River and Dam as people strongly believe that the drowning cases are being caused by mermaids.
For the past decades cases of drowning involving males only have been recorded. There are no known cases of females drowning in the water body, fuelling speculation that there might be female mermaids that prey on males.
