The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Weekender Correspondent
THE high-density suburb of Chikanga in Mutare has become the home of the now notorious “Pool of Death”.
The mysterious pool, situated near Mountain Rise Mountains, is believed to be about 60 metres deep and has claimed more lives than anyone would care to remember.
A Chikanga resident, Austin Mhuriyengwe, points to the pool, which is almost full following the recent heavy rains. —Pictures by Tinai Nyadzayo.
The murky waters have become a haven for suicidal people who throw themselves in the pool, while many pregnant women have dumped their newly born babies into it.
In addition, pool has also become a dumping place for dead bodies of people murdered elsewhere and every resident now lives in fear wondering who is next.
Attempts by Mutare City Council and residents to partially fence off the pool to avoid such tragedies have become futile.
The tragedies have united Chikanga residents in search of a long-lasting solution despite being haunted by other troubles such as scarcity of tap water and electricity.
STILL WATERS RUN DEEP . . . “The Pool of Death” is just 100 metres from some of the houses in Chikanga
An elderly man, who lives nearby, said the pool now has been in existence for over 40 years of existence and never dries.
“The area was a hive of brick-moulding, but the brick moulding company later abandoned all activities and left a huge craterwhich culminated into a big pool. It has claimed a lot of lives and we are worried because some people go there to commit suicide. I don’t remember the number of lives we have lost since 1980. We are cursed,” he said.
Another resident, Khumulani Mfisha, recalled how a fishing expedition with his friends almost turned tragic three years ago after he attempted to catch a big “fish” that had appeared on top of the pool.
“There is something very evil about this pool. We used to fish in there and people would call me ‘fish’ because I could come up with a good catch everytime. Until one day when something that looked like a big bream appeared on top, I tried catching it but my fishing bait was forcibly dragged into the pool. Had I hung on it I would have been dragged too. That was the last day we went there. And last year, we lost a fellow resident who drowned in the pool after he tried to catch the same thing that we thought was a fish,” he said.
Said Lyon Mukundu, another resident: “We lost a fellow resident who used to work at Chikanga TM shops. He committed suicide two years ago by throwing himself into the pool.”
In January this year, a Chikanga woman also threw herself in the same pool and her body was found floating a few days later.
In July last year, 28-year-old Bridget Mangazi’s body was found floating in the pool after an attempt to perform traditional rituals went awry.
Mangazi, popularly known as Mai Kuku, slipped and fell into the pool and drowned.
She was accompanied by four other women who had also gone to perform the rituals.
The quartet told police that they believed a mermaid had taken her.
Residents have called on responsible authorities like Mutare City Council to assist in stopping the carnage.
Others have also called on traditionalists and faith healers to cleanse the pool as they believe it is haunted.
When reached for comment, Mutare City Council spokesperson Mr Spren Mtiwi said despite erecting a perimeter fence around the pool, people were still finding their way through.
“We have other plans to ensure that the pool is either used for income-generating projects or to be completely closed. We have since invited interested players keen to do projects. The problem of suicide is not about fencing or constructing a wall that prevents people from accessing the same. It’s a mental issue. The pool has just become a conduit but it’s not the cause of suicides,” he said.
He added: “It’s very unfortunate that during the brick-moulding business years back, the company that was operating did not take the issue of land reclamation seriously hence the pool was created, but had there been a proper land reclamation programme, the area would have been rehabilitated.
“In an attempt to ensure security of the residents council put up a perimeter fence to ensure that the place is not easily accessible, but still people penetrate through the fence and that’s an issue now which is beyond us. We are, however, saddened by suicidal deaths, as people use the pool to take their lives.”
