Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
Two men from Kakuyo Village drowned during a church baptism ceremony in Kakeza Dam, Guruve, after a ritual went tragically wrong.
The deceased have been identified as Lazarus Jokonya (29) and Pashson Macherenje (24).
The District Development Coordinator for Mt Darwin, Mr White Nkoma, said the incident occurred on Monday, March 16, when 32 members of the Masowe Yenguwo Tsvuku apostolic sect gathered at the dam for a baptism ceremony.
Mr Nkoma said according to reports, after the baptism had been conducted, three male congregants swam towards the middle of the dam to retrieve a certain plant.
Upon reaching the spot, the pair indicated they were exhausted and unable to continue. Moments later, the two men disappeared beneath the water and did not resurface.
“Sensing danger, the sole survivor swam back to shore, while other congregants who had remained at the site fled in panic,” said Mr Nkoma.
The matter was reported to the village head, who alerted the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) later that evening.
Police retrieved the bodies of the two men the following day.
