UPDATE ON: 3 Missing After Makeshift Boat Capsized
Three mine workers from the African Chrome Fields (ACF) in Kwekwe who went missing after their makeshift boat capsized Thursday were found dead.
It is reported that the trio which was coming from ACF mine in Kwekwe was going to Mhondoro, about 23 kilometres from the mine, attempted to cross a flooded Munyati River and their makeshift boat capsized and they were swept away.
The three, Calisto Ruvazhe, Ken Paraffin and Robert better known as Robinho were dropped off by the river by a company vehicle before using a makeshift boat to attempt the flooded river.
Pindula News spoke to one Ziki, a resident of Village 14 in the new resettlement area in Mhondoro, who suggested that the trio has since been found and buried. Ziki said:
Vakomana vose vakawanikwa. Vaviri vakawanikwa nezuro 1 awanikwa nhasi (Saturday) masikati. Anonzi Robert aidaidzwa achinzi Robinho akavigwa nezuro kwacho then vaviri Calisto Ruvazhe naKen Paraffin vavigwa nhasi. 1 aive mugari wemuVillage 14, vaviri vaigara kuVillage 7 nyangwe mumwe aive mukwasha hake ikoko.
[All the three boys have been found. Two of them were found yesterday and the third one was found today (Saturday) afternoon. Robert who was better known as Robinho was buried yesterday while Calisto Ruvazhe and Ken Paraffin were buried today. Only one of the trio lived in Village 14 the other two were from Village 7 although one of them was staying with his in-laws.]
A number of people have died since the beginning of the current rain season. Early this week, six people died in Gweru when a vehicle they were travelling in was swept away while crossing a flooded bridge.
Authorities are advising members of the public not to attempt to cross flooded rivers.
