By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Four bodies of children have been recovered following a tragic incident where floodwaters from a Chipinge dam burst its banks due to heavy rainfall on Sunday.
The government has confirmed that at least six children were swept away in the disaster, which struck around 1 PM.
The flood not only claimed the lives of the young victims but also caused extensive damage to livestock and other livelihoods in downstream villages.
Misheck Mugadza, the Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, along with other officials, visited the affected area to assess the situation.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed the grim details on X, stating that six children were swept away by the floodwaters, with four bodies recovered so far and two still reported missing.
“A dam in Chipinge burst its banks due to excessive rainfall, releasing a massive amount of water into surrounding communities. The floodwaters have destroyed livestock, pumps, grinding mills, and infrastructure, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Engineers from ZINWA have been deployed to assess the damage and provide assistance,” Mangwana wrote.
In his statement, Mangwana clarified that the dam, located at Lot 3 Newcastle under Chief Mutema, is situated on private farmland, seemingly denying any government responsibility for the incident.
He was responding to criticisms online regarding the government’s failure to assess potential dangers to life and property prior to the flood.
Reports from the Masvingo Mirror indicated that a Chipinge woman, Perseverance Sithole, lost her four-year-old daughter in the disaster, while another child, aged eight, remains missing.
Additionally, Manicaland Acting Director for Local Government Services John Misi reported that a 30-year-old man was found deceased under the mud near the dam.
Amid the chaos, a seven-year-old girl who was swept away was rescued and rushed to the hospital, while a 13-year-old girl stranded in the flood was also saved by local community members.
Efforts continue to locate the missing children and provide support to those affected by this devastating event.