By Twink Jones Gadama
Tragedy struck in Chakomba village, Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa, when three family members drowned in a dam on Tuesday evening. According to Mponela Police Station spokesperson, Sergeant Macpatson Msadala, the incident occurred when the victims went to play near the dam.
Sergeant Msadala said the victims, whose names have not been disclosed, were children who had gone to play near the dam while their parents were working in the nearby fields. He said the parents had left the children playing while they went to work, but when they returned, they did not find them.
“It was when the parents went to search for the children that they found their clothes and shoes near the dam,” Sergeant Msadala said. “They then alerted the villagers, who helped them search for the children. Unfortunately, they found the children’s bodies floating in the dam.”
Sergeant Msadala said the police were informed of the incident, and they visited the scene to conduct investigations. He said the cause of the drowning was not yet established, but it is believed that the children might have slipped and fallen into the dam while playing.
The incident has sent shockwaves in the community, with many people expressing sadness and condolences to the bereaved family. The police have advised parents and guardians to be cautious and ensure that their children are safe, especially when playing near water bodies.
The drowning of the three family members brings to four the number of people who have died in drowning incidents in the country in the past week. Last week, a man drowned in the Shire River in Chikwawa, while another person died in a similar incident in Nkhata Bay.
