The government has committed to assisting with the burial expenses for the five children who tragically drowned after being swept away by water following a dam breach at Bandama Farm in Chipinge on Sunday afternoon.
The victims have been identified as Agnes Muchadeyi (4), Blessing Maone (10), Tapiwa Mtisi (13), Forgiveness Maphosa (10), and Zembilo Dube (4). Two other children, Grace Mlambo (8) and Juliet Mhlanga (4), are still missing.
In an interview with The Herald during a visit to the dam site and the damaged infrastructure on Tuesday, 11 March, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Benjamin Kabikira said they had “gained a clearer understanding of the extent of the damage caused by the dam breach.” He said:
<blockquote>
We are here as messengers of our President, His Excellency Cde Emerson Mnangagwa. Apart from the human lives lost, we also got to see the damaged infrastructure, including bridges that were swept away and livestock that was also lost.
In the spirit of leaving no one and no place behind, as espoused by our President, we have delivered foodstuffs that will be used during the funerals of the deceased children.
The Government will assist in funeral logistics to ensure the bereaved families do not shoulder the burden alone.
</blockquote>
Bandama Farm (formerly Canterbury Farm) is owned by the family of Brigadier-General Eliah Bandama, the late national hero and former Commander of the 3 Infantry Brigade in Mutare.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/state-assisted-funeral-for-chipinge-dam-breach-victims/">The Herald</a>

Pindula News

The government will help pay for funerals for five children who drowned in a dam breach. Two children are still missing. Deputy Minister Kabikira visited the dam site and saw the damage. The government will provide food and help with funeral logistics. The dam is owned by Brigadier-General Eliah Bandama's family.

Government To Assist With Burial Expenses For Chipinge Dam Breach Victims

Four people, including a four-year-old girl, have been confirmed dead, while three others remain missing following a dam breach at Bandama Farm (formerly Canterbury Farm) in Chipinge on Sunday. The breach released large quantities of water downstream.
The property was owned by the late national hero and former Commander of the 3 Infantry Brigade in Mutare, Brigadier-General Eliah Bandama.
In addition to the loss of life, livestock were killed, and irrigation facilities were destroyed.
John Misi, the Civil Protection Unit chairman for Manicaland province, confirmed on Monday that among the deceased is a minor who was with her mother, doing laundry downstream, and a man who was fishing at the time of the incident. Said Misi:
<blockquote>
The dam breach occurred at Bandama Farm, formerly known as Canterbury Farm. Although we are waiting for finer details, we are told that there was a female adult who was washing clothes downstream in the company of her two children and one of them — four years old — was swept away and the body was later retrieved.
The other child who was with her mother, a 15-year-old, was swept away and was left marooned on a piece of land. The teen was later rescued.
The other person who died was a 30-year-old man who was on a fishing expedition. It happened at a farm that is owned by the late national hero Brigadier Bandama’s family. The other two deceased were swept downstream.
</blockquote>
Chipinge District Development Coordinator, William Mashava, confirmed that a search is ongoing for the bodies of those who are still missing.
He also said macadamia farmers have suffered significant losses, with pump houses located near the river in Ward 7 and Ward 10 of the district being swept away.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/dam-breach-kills-four/">The Herald</a>

A dam burst at Bandama Farm in Chipinge, Zimbabwe, causing four deaths and three people missing. The farm, owned by a former military commander, suffered damage to irrigation facilities and livestock loss. The victims included a four-year-old girl, her mother, and a man fishing. One teen was rescued. Search efforts are ongoing for the missing. Macadamia farmers also suffered losses. The incident has caused devastation in the area.

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