By Sharon Chigeza
MUTARE – A 35-year-old mother from Buhera has been left traumatised after witnessing her 10-year-old son being swept away to his death by a flooded river while returning from a church service last Sunday.
The deceased, identified as Tashinga Chirinda, was part of a group including his mother, Memory Purazen, and two siblings who attempted to cross the swollen Neramba River at approximately 1:45pm. The river had reportedly burst its banks following a period of incessant heavy rains in the Manicaland province.
According to Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, the Acting Manicaland Provincial Police Spokesperson, the family felt they had no alternative but to attempt the crossing despite the dangerous conditions.
As the family entered the water, a powerful current overpowered young Tashinga, pulling him into the raging torrent before the horrified eyes of his mother and siblings. In a frantic bid for survival, Ms. Purazen and her two other children managed to cling to shrubs along the riverbank as the water rushed past them.
The mother eventually managed to swim to safety and immediately raised the alarm with the local authorities.
Police attended the scene and launched a search operation, which tragically resulted in the recovery of the young boy’s body downstream. The body was subsequently transported to Murambinda Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by flooded waterbodies during the current rainy season.
