Sharon Chigeza

MUTARE– A 14-year-old girl from Chihobvu village under Chief Saunyama drowned last week in the Pendeke River in a heartbreaking incident.
Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka identified the deceased as Mercy Madotsa.

According to authorities, Mercy had gone to the river with two other minors around 1pm to do here laundry when disaster struck.

“While attempting to sit on a rock, Mercy lost her footing, slipped and fell into the water, leading to her tragic drowning,” Assistant Inspector Chinyoka explained.

The victim’s mother, Martha Dzomba, was alerted and joined community members in recovering her daughter’s body from the river.

Police from Nyanga were notified and the body was transported to Nyanga General Hospital for postmortem examination. The incident has left the rural community in mourning as investigations continue.

Authorities have reminded the public to exercise extreme caution near water bodies, especially during the rainy season when river currents can be unpredictable.