Zambia: A 12-year-old boy from the Zimba District of Southern Province died after drowning in a dam in Treasure Township. The incident took place on Saturday, December 30. The victim has been identified as ten-year-old Bbalo Munsanda.
The victim was a grade five pupil at Zimba Basic School. The unfortunate incident took place around 16:00 hours on Saturday. At the time, the victim was swimming with five other friends.
Father to the deceased, George Munsanda, confirmed the death of his son. He expressed his sadness about the unfortunate development. Meanwhile, the family of the victim has not been reached out for further comment.
The father of the victim explained the circumstances of the accident. “My son died after he drowned in the dam at Treasure Township. He went swimming in the company of five friends.”
He revealed that there was panic among the boys after noticing that their friend started drowning.
Further, Munsanda narrated that the boys later called on people who were passing by for help but to no avail.
The body of the deceased has since been deposited at Zimba Mission Hospital, awaiting burial.
Hospital Administrator Stanford Khondowe, who regretted the death of the boy, advised parents and guardians in the district to sensitise their children on the dangers of swimming in water bodies that included dams as they go out to play.
The accident has attracted a lot of reactions from the people of the country. Many social media users have expressed their condolences to the family of the victim. People have extended their support to the family in their tough times.
Recently, a 3-year-old boy from Choma’s Chandamali Compound also drowned in an unfinished soak-away located about 150 meters away from his parents’ house.
The incident which claimed Bernard Hamukululwe’s life happened on Friday, December 22. The authorities have dissuaded parents and guardians from allowing unsupervised access and swimming in dangerous water bodies