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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A TWO-YEAR-OLD baby drowned in Mtshabezi River in Gwanda while his mother was harvesting amacimbi about 30 metres away.

Justice Moyo was among babies that had been left under the care of a 16-year-old girl as their mothers went to harvest amacimbi (mopani worms) when the incident occurred at around 1PM on Wednesday.

Justice, in the company of another two-year-old child, walked away from the group of children to Mtshabezi River where he drowned.

Matabeleland South acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the sudden death incident.

She said investigations were underway.

“We are investigating a case of sudden death of a two-year-old baby who allegedly drowned in a river while the mother was fetching some mopani worms with a team of other women. The women left their babies in the custody of a 16-year-old girl.

“Two babies walked towards the river where one of them drowned. When the other one returned to the site alone crying, this prompted the child’s minder who was cooking to search for the other baby who was found floating in a nearby river,” she said.

The matter was reported to police and the body was retrieved and taken to Gwanda District Hospital mortuary. Asst Insp Mangena warned members of the public harvesting amacimbi to be careful as a lot of mishaps have been reported.

“People are being bitten by snakes while others are being attacked by wildlife. A health hazard is also looming in those areas as people are using the bush as toilets,” she said. — @winnie_masara