News / National
Christmas tragedy, 11 people, mostly children, dies on the spot celebrating Xmas
26 Dec 2011 at 07:57hrs | Views
Tragedy hit revelers at Lake Chivero on Christmas Day after a boat capsized drowning 11 people who were celebrating Christmas.
What started as a joyous experience and celebrations over Christmas turned out to be a tragedy after 11 people, most of them children drowned after the boat they were in, capsized at Lake Chivero last night.
Two survivors, Mr Timothy Joram, who lost his son and Shanice Ruzvidzo aged 14, who also lost several members of her family said the boat which had around 18 people, capsized after it reduced speed as it approached the lake shore.
National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe Public Relations Manager, Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the boat was operating illegally and was overloaded.
Officer Commanding ZRP Harare province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Clement Munoriyarwa described the tragedy as unfortunate, saying they have retrieved 11 bodies so far and investigations are still underway.
Reporters are reliably informed that the owner of the boat does not have a permit to ferry people on his boat for commercial purposes, but was trying to cash in on the huge volumes of people who wanted boat rides as the licensed boats were not enough to meet the demand over the Christmas Day holiday.
The driver of the boat, the captain and owner temporarily fled the scene of the accident, but are now in police custody.
The deceased are Nunurai Chitungo 19, Tanaka Ruzvidzo 11, Tatenda Ruzvidzo 5, Angiline Kasito 17, Sprena Kaseke 13, Anesu Kaseke 11, Tadiwanashe January 7, Pathras Chimimba 14, Rason Jason 7 and Munashe Joram 5.
What started as a joyous experience and celebrations over Christmas turned out to be a tragedy after 11 people, most of them children drowned after the boat they were in, capsized at Lake Chivero last night.
Two survivors, Mr Timothy Joram, who lost his son and Shanice Ruzvidzo aged 14, who also lost several members of her family said the boat which had around 18 people, capsized after it reduced speed as it approached the lake shore.
National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe Public Relations Manager, Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the boat was operating illegally and was overloaded.
Officer Commanding ZRP Harare province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Clement Munoriyarwa described the tragedy as unfortunate, saying they have retrieved 11 bodies so far and investigations are still underway.
Reporters are reliably informed that the owner of the boat does not have a permit to ferry people on his boat for commercial purposes, but was trying to cash in on the huge volumes of people who wanted boat rides as the licensed boats were not enough to meet the demand over the Christmas Day holiday.
The driver of the boat, the captain and owner temporarily fled the scene of the accident, but are now in police custody.
The deceased are Nunurai Chitungo 19, Tanaka Ruzvidzo 11, Tatenda Ruzvidzo 5, Angiline Kasito 17, Sprena Kaseke 13, Anesu Kaseke 11, Tadiwanashe January 7, Pathras Chimimba 14, Rason Jason 7 and Munashe Joram 5.
Source - zbc
