Rains frustrate search for swept away learner

Police and community members in villages surrounding Chimvu Primary School in Thyolo East Constituency yesterday abandoned a search for an 11-year-old learner feared to have been swept away  on Wednesday by flooding Chimvu River.

The missing girl was in the company of her five colleagues on their way back from school.

Earlier yesterday, village head Mpaso, whose village the children come from, said hours after the incident a search only found the girl’s clothes and a school bag.

Limbe Police Station spokesperson Patrick Mussa identified the child as Estere Ngombingo from Mpaso Village, Traditional Authority Chimaliro in Thyolo.

He said police were working hand-in-hand with community members in the search for the missing child.

“The Standard Three learner at Chimvu Primary School was in the company of six other learners when she tried to cross the flooded river,” he said.

As we went to press, a teacher at the school, who opted for anonymity, said search efforts were being thwarted by persistent rains, and a 50-member search party had suspended the effort.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Village Head Mpaso faulted school authorities for letting learners go home amid indications of heavy rains upstream.

She said: “I am disappointed with the school administration for allowing the children to go home while there were all indications that it was raining heavily upstream. During our time, when it was raining, teachers would hold the learners or ask someone to escort them to cross through a bridge upstream.”

Initial reports indicated that six learners were washed away, but it later transpired that the other five went into hiding, bringing fears that they were also washed away.

In its weather updates, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has been warning of heavy rains and thunderstorms in most areas with a threat of flash flooding.

The department advises the public to avoid crossing flooded and fast flowing waters, plan travels properly and avoid resting and parking under trees and wet fences.

“Torrential rains can weaken some structures; therefore, keep on inspecting houses and other buildings for possible damages to avoid walls collapsing on people,” reads the statement in part.

The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has recorded 56 deaths this rain season.

According to Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula, 30 people have been killed by lightning while 26 died due to collapsed walls following stormy rains, heavy rains and strong winds.  He said currently, they do not have a specific number of children killed in the rainstorms.

Cumulatively, 16 427 households (approximately 73 921 people), have been affected and the department is currently reaching out to 10 427 households (approximately 45 621 people) with relief assistance which includes food and non-food items.