Six children drown in Bikita - Police

Police in Masvingo report that six children drowned in Bikita in the past two weeks and have urged parents and guardians to monitor the movements of their children during this rainy season.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Peter Zhanero said the latest case of drowning involved an eight-year-old boy who drowned in Majaya village under Chief Marozva while swimming in a flooded river last Friday.

"The juvenile, whose identity we cannot reveal, drowned while swimming in a flooded river. This brings to six the number of kids who have drowned in the past two weeks in the area and it's a cause for concern to us," Zhanero said.

He said on New Year's Day a 13-year-old girl drowned while swimming in Machakwa village under Chief Mukanganwi just two days after four others had drowned in two separate incidents in the district.

"On December 30, three children aged nine, 10 and 14 drowned while they were swimming in Mushaviri Dam. The same day, another eight-year-old died after drowning while swimming in Zvinoitavamwe village under Chief Budzi," Zhanero said.

He urged parents to be on the lookout for their children now that schools were about to open to prevent further unnecessary loss of lives.

"Parents should monitor their kids, especially near water bodies. They should encourage their children to desist from swimming in rivers and dams. With schools opening next week, parents should, where possible, escort their kids to school if they have to cross rivers and urge their children to avoid crossing flooded rivers," Zhanero added