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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
A GRADE Five pupil at Dumezweni Primary School in Bulawayo drowned while on a fishing expedition at Khami Dam on Monday.

Lyn Dube, 10, from Pumula South suburb, allegedly drowned while in the company of three classmates who agreed to keep his death a secret.

His uncle, Titus Dube, said Lyn and his friends decided to go fishing at Khami Dam without their parents’ knowledge.

Dube said his nephew’s body was found on Tuesday after a classmate informed school authorities about the drowning.

“The children went out on a fishing expedition at Khami dam, seven kilometres from their home. For our child it was his first time and he didn’t know how to swim. They were using five-litre water containers to stay afloat. But it seems his container slipped and while trying to reach for it he moved to a deeper part of the dam resulting in him drowning,” said Dube.

He said there was nothing his friends could do to assist him, leading to his death.

Dube said after the incident, Lyn’s friends connived not to say a word about what happened at the dam and went to their homes.

He said the family had to engage school authorities about the boy’s disappearance after searching for him in vain.

“At the school one of the girls informed the teachers that he was seen with his friends who then confessed. He was only retrieved after police brought their sub aqua unit from Fairbridge at 3PM yesterday (Tuesday)” said Dube.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube urged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children to avoid such mishaps.

He said police were investigating the case.