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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
AN eight-year-old boy from Beitbridge drowned in a dam while he was swimming with his friend.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred at Mafugwe Dam in Chitulipasi Village under Chief Matibe on Friday last week at around 5pm.
He said the boy and his friend also aged eight went to swim in the dam when one of them drowned.
“I can confirm that we received a case of drowning involving an eight-year-old boy from Chitulipasi Village. The boy and his friend who is also of the same age went to swim at Mafugwe Dam at around 5pm. While they were swimming the now deceased drowned and his friend tried to save him but failed. He rushed back home to inform elders. Villagers teamed up and looked for the boy’s body but failed to locate it. They reported the matter to the police who attended the scene and recovered the body at night,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele urged parents to warn their children against swimming in water bodies. He said water bodies such as rivers and dams were a danger especially during the rainy season.
In another incident a 10-year-old girl died after she was struck by lightning while she was sleeping with her three siblings in Sukwi area. Chief Insp Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred at around midnight on Thursday last week. He said the 10-year-old girl was sleeping on the floor with her three siblings while their grandfather was sleeping on a bed in the same room.
“I can confirm that we recorded an incident of lightning involving a 10-year-old girl. The girl was sleeping on the floor with her three siblings when lightning struck in the middle of the night. She sustained severe burns and died instantly,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele appealed to members of the public to be careful during the rainy season and avoid situations that expose them to lightning.
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