GWERU – Both police and Gweru City Council have launched investigations into the drowning of an
18-year-old teenager at GCC swimming pool which is situated on the outskirts of the central business
district.

The police confirmed the death of Tatenda Kuvarega of Light Industrial Site in the city.
“It is confirmed that Police are investigating a sudden death case where an 18-year-old Gweru man
drowned in a swimming pool on October 28 at about 3:30pm at Gweru City Council Swimming Pool
just outside Gweru Central Business District,” the police said in a statement.
It is alleged that Kuvarega jumped into the pool intending to swim.

“He drowned at once as he did not know how to swim. A member of the public who was nearby
jumped into the pool and rescued him,” the police statement said.

Kuvarega was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he died upon arrival and certified dead by
a medical doctor.

GCC also released a statement saying they were investigating the case.
“It is a sad incident for us, thus we carrying out an investigation to get to the root cause of the
incident,” they said.

GCC received backlash from residents for the incident.

“This is negligent on the part of council. I don’t believe they have a qualified lifesaver or lifesavers at
their swimming pools,” a resident in the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association WhatsApp
group said.

Gweru runs three swimming pools in the CBD, Mambo and Mkoba 6.