Mvuma,(New Ziana) – Three men drowned on Wednesday when they tried to cross flooded Munyati River using a canoe, police have said, adding the sub-aqua unit had been summoned to search for the bodies.

Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, identified the three as Robert Mapfumo (30), Callisto Ruvazhe (32) and Kenneth Paraffin (33), all of Manyoni area in Mhondoro.

Mahoko said at around three o’clock in the afternoon, the three attempted to cross the flooded Munyati River on their way home from Chenyika.

“They got into a canoe and starting rowing towards the other end. When they were midway, the canoe overturned throwing them in the water,” he said.

Mahoko said the three were seen drowning by one Raphael Ndlovu, and alerted other members of the public.

“Ndlovu called other people so that they could rescue the three but no assistance could be rendered as the three had disappeared in the water.”

A report was made to the police who attended the scene.

Mahoko said the police sub-aqua unit had been summoned to help search for the bodies.

The incident comes three days after two others drowned when their car was swept away by water at Gweru River Bridge along Matobo Road on the outskirts of Gweru.

The two have been identified as Tinashe Chiwawa (50) of Senga in Gweru and Shepherd Dzinoreva of Patchway in Kadoma.

Mahoko once again appealed to members of the public to desist from crossing flooded rivers.
New Ziana