The Sunday News
Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy drowned in a 24-metre deep well last week in Zaka, Masvingo after he had gone to fetch water.
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said that Shadreck Munda of Masela Village, Chief Chitanga had gone to a nearby well to fetch water when he accidentally fell into the well. Insp Dhewa encouraged the local communities to put safe guards on their wells so that they can be able to avoid such incidents.
“On 18 April around 8am, Munda went to fetch water at the well which is about 400 metres away from his homestead and he had two 20-litre buckets.
Electrical cable – Image from Shutterstock
He was able to fill the first 20-litre bucket but when he was about to fill the second bucket, he fell into 24-metre well which had about seven metres deep water.
Another villager who was on her way to fetch water saw him fall into the well and rushed to mobilise other villagers to rescue the boy. The body was retrieved and it had a fractured right leg and the deep cut on the back of the head,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Chivange Village, Chief Shumba a 16-year-old Emmanuel Manatsa was electrocuted when he had gone in pursuit of a stray calf.
“On 17 April at around 11 am Manatsa left home with their cattle to the nearby grazing area and while he was still at the grazing area a calf wandered off from the other herd. Manatsa together with his siblings aged 11 and 13 went out in the evening searching for the calf. They found the calf at a nearby bush and drove it home.
However, on their way home the calf wandered off again past an electrical cable which was lying on the ground. Manatsa then ran past the cable and was electrocuted. The siblings went home and reported the matter to their parents,” Insp Dhewa said.
The father went to the scene and rushed the boy to Morgnester Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The body was taken to the Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
