Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-A three-year-old boy from New Lobengula died on Tuesday after slipping into a drainage system and being swept away by flash floods. Police confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Sibusiso Mathembe Moyo.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Norma Msebele said the deceased, along with his eight-year-old brother, had been sent by their mother to the shops.
“On their way to the shops, it started raining, and they ran to a tuckshop to seek shelter. After the rains subsided, the two began walking back home,” she said.
While walking, the toddler slipped into a drainage channel and was swept away by the rushing water, she explained.
“The deceased’s brother informed their mother, who then reported the incident to the police. A search was conducted by members of the public, police officers and the fire brigade, but nothing was found initially,” she added.
Msebele said on Wednesday morning a member of the neighbourhood watch committee discovered the body in a drain along Luveve Road, opposite Josiah Primary School. The body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem examination.
Msebele urged parents and guardians to closely monitor children under their care, especially during the rainy season.
“We advise parents to warn children against crossing flooded streams or drainages and to wait until the water subsides. We also encourage everyone to avoid crossing flooded rivers,” she said.
New Ziana
