By Rutendo Mapfumo
Victoria Falls – A baptism ceremony on the Zambezi River ended in tragedy when two members of an apostolic sect were swept away by strong currents at Rapid Number 5, below Victoria Falls, on Saturday morning.
The two were reportedly taking part in a church baptism ritual when they were overpowered by the fast‑flowing water in the treacherous gorge section of the river.
Search and rescue efforts, which began soon after the incident, intensified over the weekend and into Monday, involving the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and local rafting operators familiar with the dangerous rapids. One body, believed to be that of the pastor who was conducting the baptism, was recovered on Monday with the assistance of a local white‑water rafting company operating on the Zambezi.
Confirming the development, rescue team member Philani Moyo, a veteran river guide and rafting operator, said they were continuing to sweep the river in search of the second victim. Moyo said the team was working under difficult conditions due to the volume and strength of the water, and urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid carrying out religious rituals in restricted or high‑risk sections of the river.
“We are tirelessly working in search of the other body and coordinating closely with the authorities,” he said.
Families of the missing have been notified, while church members and the local community have been gathering along the riverbank, anxiously awaiting news from the search teams.
Officials say the Zambezi River, particularly the rapids below Victoria Falls, is notorious for its deceptive strength and has claimed several lives over the years, including tourists and local residents. The tragedy comes shortly after another fatal incident in the same area, in which a 49‑year‑old American tourist died after falling into the gorge, prompting renewed calls for strict adherence to safety guidelines around the World Heritage Site.
