Fatal end to joy-swim as two boys drown

MVUMA - What began like a joyful swimming session for Grade 7 school-leavers who had just completed writing their last examinations ended in tragedy when two of the group of pupils who had sneaked out of school to swim drowned to death in Shashe River.

The unfortunate incident occurred in the afternoon when a group of Grade Seven pupils from Dreinfontein Primary School in Mvuma escaped from the school premises during lunch time, after agreeing to go for a swim in Shashe River, which is near the school. The group was led by one of the boys who eventually drowned.

"This tragic incident happened on Thursday afternoon, during lunch time. The children left the school as a group. I don't know the specific number and they were led by one of the two boys who eventually drowned. The drowned boy was a day scholar who knew the local area very well," said the source.

"Upon realising that their colleagues were drowning, the other boys rushed to the school, to inform the school authorities, who immediately called the police.

When the police arrived at the scene, the two kids were already dead. They, however, managed to retrieve the bodies. Their bodies were taken to Muonde Mission Hospital for postmortem. The day scholar lived at Muonde hospital in Mvuma and the other, a boarder, was from Birchenough Bridge".

School head, Allois Mukurumbira confirmed the incident.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident. She, however, could not give details, saying her office was waiting for a full report from the relevant station.