A prayer vigil in Gokwe South turned into a devastating tragedy when four children drowned after a sudden wave of floods swept away an Apostolic sect congregation sheltering under a bridge.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed they are investigating the harrowing incident, which occurred in the early hours of February 14, 2025, near Tare Bridge along the Gokwe-Siabuwa road.
He said group of about 20 congregants had gathered for a late-night prayer session when light showers began to fall. Seeking refuge, they huddled beneath the seemingly dry bridge, unaware of the danger building upstream.
As they drifted into sleep, torrential rains further afield unleashed a surge of floodwaters that tore through the riverbed, engulfing the unsuspecting worshippers. Chaos erupted as they scrambled for safety, but in the darkness and the raging waters, four young children were tragically lost to the currents.
The victims have been identified as:
• Beauty Mavhiringani (9 months) and Devine Muvhiringani (4 years) from Village Kamba
• Pamela Natare (1 year, 9 months) from Village Tsive
• Effort Shava (3 years) from Village Mudzimiri
Their lifeless bodies were discovered strewn along the riverbank, some as far as 20 kilometers from the bridge.
Search teams are still combing the area in a desperate effort to locate the final missing victim—Pamela Natare—whose body remains unaccounted for.
The retrieved bodies have been taken to Gokwe South District Hospital Mortuary, while police investigations continue into the tragic events that turned a night of worship into an unimaginable nightmare.
