By Staff Reporter

CHINHOYI – WHILE everyone has anticipated the onset of the rains, for two people in Mashonaland West, the rains last week marked their last days on this side of life.
The two people lost their lives when they were struck by lightning in two separate incidents.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove, told Telegraph that the first incident occurred on the 25 October at around 4pm at Farm 141 in Chitomborwizi, Zvimba.
Precious Tidigu (49) was with her husband, Edison Nyamutowa, and their daughter in the kitchen when it started raining.
Nyamutowa left the two in the kitchen and went to Edwin Nyamutowa’s kitchen, where other family members were gathered.
After a while, one of their children rushed to Edwin’s kitchen and informed her father that her mother had been struck by lightning and the kitchen was on fire.
They put out the fire and discovered that his wife had already died.
In a similar incident an 18-year-old boy and a girl where struck by lightning in Chinhoyi. The boy died on spot
On 28 October around 4:30pm, the boy from Ruvimbo was in company of his three friends on their way back home from Hunyani River after doing their laundry.
They parted ways and the boy went with his 16-year-old female friend. It started raining and a bolt of lightning struck the two but the girl was lucky to survive.
“They were both thrown into a ditch and the boy died on the spot, and the girl complained of painful eyes,” said Inspector Chitove.
A report was made and ZRP Chemagamba attended the scene. The boy had a cut on the forehead and his pair of trousers was tattered. The girl was rushed to Chinhoyi Hospital as she was complaining of painful eyes.
Inspector Chitove urged people to be cautious as the rainy season approaches.
“The police urges the public not to use electric gadgets like cellphones when it’s raining, avoid open spaces and also avoid sheltering under trees as chances of being struck by lightning will be high.”