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Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT has commended the Bulawayo Power Boat club for its assistance leading to the retrieval of the body of Brian Umera, a Central Intelligence Officer, a week after he drowned in Lower Ncema Dam in Umzingwane last month.

Umera who was based in Bulawayo drowned on November 17 during an outing with friends and his body was found a week later by rescuers.

During a media briefing last Friday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Judith Ncube singled out the manager of Bulawayo Power Boat club Mr Norman Gardner and his colleague Mr Brett Halloways who assisted in the recovery of Umera’s body at their own cost.

She said daily they searched for the body until it was found after a week.

“We had a group of people who were ready to assist, they demonstrated a unique heart in the search for Brian Umera who died on the 17th of November as a result of drowning in Lower Ncema dam in Esigodini. He was laid to rest on November 25 in Vumba, Manicaland province,” said Cde Ncube

She said Gardner and his colleague used their own resources to search for the body of Umera.

“We want to thank him and his colleague for the job well done. Thank you so much, we wish everybody could possess the same spirit so that we assist each other as Zimbabweans,” said Cde Ncube.

She also thanked members of the police sub aqua who led the search team.

Umera reportedly slipped from a rubber float that had been tied to the back of the boat.

Speaking on behalf of the CIO during a funeral service in Bulawayo, assistant director in the western region Mr Innocent Mada said Umera’s death dealt a great blow to the organisation.