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Midlands Reporter—
TWO Grade Seven pupils at Dreinfontein Primary School in Mvuma, drowned on Thursday, after they had sneaked out of school for a swimming session together with others in Shashe River. The unfortunate incident occurred in the afternoon when the children had just completed writing their last examination. Sources at the boarding school, said an unknown number of Grade Seven pupils disappeared from the school premises and went for a swim.
School head, Allois Mukurumbira confirmed the incident.

He, however, said he was not in a position to comment further and referred questions to the Midlands Provincial Education Director, Agnes Gudo.
A source at the school said on Thursday last week,the group of pupils escaped from the school premises during lunch time, after agreeing to go for a swim in Shashe River, which is near the school. The group was led by one of the boys who eventually drowned.

“This tragic incident happened on Thursday afternoon, during lunch time. The children left the school as a group. I don’t know the specific number and they were led by one of the two boys who eventually drowned. The drowned boy was a day scholar who knew the local area very well,” said the source.

“Upon realising that their colleagues were drowning, the other boys rushed to the school, to inform the school authorities, who immediately called the police. When the police arrived at the scene, the two kids were already dead. They, however, managed to retrieve the bodies. Their bodies were taken to Muonde Mission Hospital for postmortem. The day scholar lived at Muonde hospital in Mvuma and the other, a boarder, was from Birchenough Bridge”.

A senior member of staff at the school who preferred anonymity said the two boys were both buried on Sunday.
Acting police spokesperson for Midlands, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident. She, however, could not give details, saying her office was waiting for a full report from the relevant station.