Missing senior nurse found dead in flooded river

Tragedy has struck Matibi Mission Hospital in Mwenezi after the decomposing body of a senior nurse, Frank Siziba (64), was discovered in a nearby river three weeks after he went missing.

Siziba's body was found by relatives in the Musingwizi River, where it is believed he was swept away while attempting to cross the flooded waterway on March 6. According to reports, he was trying to follow his wife, who had left the area to attend overnight church prayers.

The discovery was made after an extensive search by family members, who located his remains trapped among tree roots in the middle of the river, approximately 5km from a known crossing point.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident, saying the body was found in a decomposed state.

"The body will be taken for post-mortem to try and establish the cause of death, but we suspect that he might have drowned while trying to cross the flooded Musingwizi River," he said.

Siziba was reported missing on March 7 after he failed to return home following the night of March 6. His wife alerted authorities upon returning from her church gathering, prompting a missing person report and a search operation that continued for weeks.

The discovery has left the hospital and local community in shock, highlighting the dangers posed by flooded rivers during the rainy season, particularly in rural areas where crossing points can become hazardous.

Authorities are expected to conduct a post-mortem examination to confirm the exact cause of death as investigations continue.