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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
THREE members of the same family were killed by a single bolt of lightning and a fourth seriously injured while out tending their fields, Midlands police said.
Cousins Knowledge Masina, 42, Talent Ruzvidza, 7, Benefect Nhete, 8, and their grandmother, only identified as Gogo Masina, were working in their field at around 5PM on Sunday when it started raining.
The four – all from Summerset in Gokwe South – sought cover under a grass-thatched pole-and-dagga shade but a bolt of lightning struck, killing Ruzvidza, Nhete and Masina on the spot.
“They were thrown out of the shade and died on the spot. Gogo Masina survived the lightning and was rushed to Gokwe District Hospital,” Midlands provincial police spokesman Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said.
Insp Mahoko said a postmortem was waived by a Gokwe magistrate.
Meanwhile, Chief Njelele expressed concern over the high incidence of lightning in his area. He said it was not the first time that members of the same family were killed by lightning.
“What’s worrying is that in most of the incidences, the victims will be indoors either at a homestead or under a shade.
“We’re therefore left puzzled because the advice people normally get when there is lightning is that they should stay indoors and avoid being near tall objects,” he said.
Online Reporter