MIDWEEK WATCH
CHIMANIMANI-A family in Chimanimani delayed to report a drowning case involving their daughter believing that she would come back spiritually more powerful as a mermaid.
The late Eunice Moyo (16) of Muchakagara Village under Chief Mutambara in Chimanimani drowned in Umvumvumvu River while swimming with her two friends but when the mother, Siletiwe Moyo (42) was informed of the tragedy she decided not to report the matter as she thought the daughter would come back with supernatural powers.
“The mother did not report the matter to the police as she believed her daughter had been taken by mermaids and would come back with supernatural powers associated with the underworld,” Manicaland Province acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka told The Midweek Watch.
The matter only came to light when a villager, Sophia Mugabaza (43) of Makonde Village under Chief Mutambara who was coming from church on January 2, at around 4pm along Umvumvumvu River saw a floating body and alerted other villagers.
Chinyoka told The Midweek Watch that on New Year’s Day at around 1pm, Eunice went for laundry in Umvumvumvu River.
The three started swimming, whereupon Eunice disappeared into dip waters and the two friends went to report the matter to her mother who rushed to the scene.
After searching for her daughter the mother was satisfied that her daughter had been taken by a mermaid hence she went home and waited for her to come back with supernatural powers.
The following day as Sophia was coming from church she saw Eunice’s body floating and informed other villagers and a report was made to Cashel Valley police station.
Eunice’s body which had froth on the mouth and bleeding through the nose was taken to Mutambara Hospital for postmortem.
Chinyoka warned parents and guardians to closely monitor the movements of their children and desist from playing around water bodies especially during the rainy season when rivers are flooded.
