Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl drowned and three family members remain missing after a fibreglass canoe capsied in Ruti Dam, Buhera, in the early hours of yesterday.
The four were attempting to cross the dam from Gutu to Buhera at about 3am to catch a bus from Ndyarima to Harare.
The body of Moreblessing Zvoushe (4) was discovered floating in the dam at around 4am by fisherman, Thomas Gojo, of Mbuya Mhengi Village, Chief Nyashanu.
The body was positively identified by relatives, and was later conveyed to Murambinda Mission Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.
No foul play is suspected.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the tragedy. Adding that police will be releasing the details shortly.
The missing persons have been identified as Modreck Rufu, Tecla Rufu, and Peacemaker Zvoushe, from Rufu village , under Chief Mazuru, Gutu.
It is understood that Modreck Rufu was ferrying his sister, Tecla and her two children across the 500-metre stretch of Ruti Dam, from Rufu Village to Ndyarima Business Centre, Buhera, using a fibreglass canoe.
Tecla intended to board a bus to Harare.
The group allegedly informed fisherman, Silas Mukombe, 54, of Mbwedza Village, Chief Mazuru, of their plan before setting off, and in the process the canoe capsized.
The Police Sub-Aqua Unit from Changadzi, Birchenough, searched the dam for the remainder of yesterday, but failed to locate the other three bodies.
Search operations are continuing.
