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Patrick Chitumba Chronicle Reporter
A DARK cloud hung over Kumalo Suburb in Bulawayo yesterday after two Grade Two pupils at a local school drowned in a swimming pool at a stranger’s house.

The tragic death of Foster Ncube and Blessing Shumba who were pupils at Kumalo Primary School was witnessed by the latter’s twin brother, Blessed, who watched his sibling gasping for breath as he stood by the poolside.

Blessed is said to have refused to get into the swimming pool at the invitation of his twin brother and their friend, Foster, citing cold weather.

Even the first aid rendered by the gardener at the house failed to save the boys’ lives. Both were said to be bright in class. Parents of the boys, teachers from Kumalo Primary School led by the headmistress, Musa Dube, and residents gathered at house number 14, Chaplin Road around 2PM when news of the tragic incident filtered through.

A Chronicle news crew arrived at the house when the two bodies had been retrieved from the swimming pool and placed by the poolside covered by a red blanket.

The boys had placed their school uniform – shoes, trousers, jerseys and neck ties – under a tree which is close to the swimming pool.

Blessed cast a lonely figure as he sat between his teachers watching his brother and friend’s bodies covered by a blanket with people coming and leaving, some asking questions. He looked strong as he didn’t show signs of breaking down.

Police officers from the homicide department and uniformed officers were busy collecting statements from the maid, Lucia Mandiudza, the gardener Zenzo Tshuma and the school head, Dube.

According to Dube’s statement to the police, the boys just like the rest of grade ones and twos knocked off from school at 12 noon. She said she was then shocked to receive news of their drowning around 2PM. “All I know is that they knocked off at 12 noon and were supposed to go home straight. But we’re here and it’s very sad,” said Dube.

She said she was not aware the boys were in the swimming team as swimming was off season at the school since it is winter.

Asked to explain why then the boys had swimming trunks and drying towels, Dube said, “I think knowing that there wasn’t any swimming at the school, the boys planned to swim at this house.”

Mandiudza told The Chronicle that around 1200 hours, she was preparing to leave the house to go and collect her bosses’ daughter also a Grade Two pupil at the same school.

She said as she was closing the kitchen doors, she heard a splash in the swimming pool.

“I then went to investigate and on getting there, I saw two boys in the swimming pool. The third boy was calling his colleagues out saying it was time to go,” said Mandiudza.

Investigating further, she saw that the boys were not making any movement and she called Tshuma who was tending the vegetable garden. Tshuma said he also heard a splashing sound coming from the swimming pool direction.

“I removed my gumboots and got into the swimming pool and pulled the boys out. I tried to apply first aid on the boys but it was all in vain. Only one vomited some water but that didn’t save him,” said Tshuma.

He said they called their boss who later called the police and the school.

“When the police arrived at the scene, the boys had long died. I’m equally shocked at this tragic incident,” said Tshuma who said he did not know the boys.

He said the image of the boys floating at the deep end of the swimming pool will remain etched in his mind for a long time.

Mandiudza also confirmed Tshuma’s story saying that she was not familiar with the boys.

“Our gate wasn’t locked and it can be easily moved since it’s a sliding gate. So they could’ve just sneaked in and started swimming unknown to us,” he said.

However, Ncube’s father who was hostile to The Chronicle news crew could be heard telling the police that the twins used to frequent the house for swimming.

Efforts to get a comment from the owner of the house, identified as Chigariro, were fruitless as he was said to be in Harare.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo could not be reached for comment.