The ManicaPost
Luxson Chananda Crime Watch
The rain season is commonly associated with natural phenomena such as lightning and flooding of water bodies caused by incessant rains.
These have significantly contributed to the deaths of people during the season. It is important that we share some of the ways by which we can prevent deaths that come as a result of people being struck by lightning or being swept away by torrents or even drowning in water bodies such as dams ditches, gullies, wells among other things.
We begin by recognising that police role in this matter derives from its constitutional mandate of protecting and securing the lives of the people and property.
Manicaland province has a number of rivers, streams, tributaries and dams whose volumes of water increase with the onset of the rainy season.
Incidentally, this is the time that is associated with increased activity and movement by many people of varying age groups as they go about their business. We appreciate that most of our victims are our relatives and friends in the rural with whom we should share these vital prevention tips.
Cases handled by police have indicated that many people actually dare heavy rains and thunderstorms by venturing out when these are imminent and this has been so for varying reasons.
A number of people who die in rivers are those attempting to cross-flooded rivers.
We urge that it is never wise to attempt to cross a flooded river nomatter how desperate one is to get to the other side.
In many situations people that have fallen victim are those that would have travelled earlier on to places across rivers only to find them flooded on their way back after rains have fallen. Some try to walk across rivers holding onto each other whilst others use makeshift canoes.
There have also been instances where people cross the river holding onto the tail of animals especially cattle. These are all dangerous acts which should be done away with as doing so is tantamount to experimenting with your life.
It is wise to wait until the river has receded and even to seek accommodation on that side of the river. Nothing justifies reckless loss of life.
Children herding cattle have a tendency of wanting to swim in rivers and dams. The police here urge parents to always warn children against playing in large bodies of water.
It has been seen that most people that die in dams are those that try to swim across the dam under estimating its size and depth only to get tired half way across the dam resulting in them drowning.
There are also cases where children especially infants drown in disused pits, wells and dishes or buckets. The rain season is the time to fill up all such potential hazards which get filled up with water once it rains.
Children usually play out of sight of adults and naturally have poor judgment of the depth of water in a ditch or gully yet even when such ditches or gullies are shallow they can claim the child’s live.
Although it is important to always have children in sight wherever they are playing, the problem solving approach is to have such pits filled up with sand or some other substance.
Parents especially mothers and baby minders must exercise extreme vigilance at all times. It has been seen that some children that are left behind at home sometimes follow their parents or minders when they go to do their laundry or bathing at rivers. The children often drown in pools or in the river during the process of doing so.
On a more saddening note, cases of people being killed by lightning are on the increase.
We urge people to stay indoors during thunderstorms or when thunderstorms are imminent. It has been said over and over again that during thunderstorms, people must avoid being on open spaces or being at places where they are the tallest objects.
Seeking shelter under trees is extremely dangerous. It is also important to install lightning conductors at homes where possible.
ZRP Manicaland Press and Public Relations
