16/01/2025
It is a mystery
On Sunday, 12th January 2025 in the late afternoon, an unfortunate event occurred- our nephew in the community and altar boy (14 years old) at Church drowned in a dam along Mungwi Road. We got a phone call while about to leave Church premises - and quickly moved to the cite to see what was happening and verify the information- I was in shock and did not know what to expect as was the case with the team- Catechist, Parish Chairperson and his vice, Parish Secretary and Youth Choir Patron.
Getting to the dam, we were greeted by a multitude of people- in the compound information spreads so fast. There were already boys and men of the area on the water trying to find the body of the boy- Prince. He is the boy, who not so long ago I led to the altar for baptism as a god-parent. To think that this boy was now lying beneath the waters lifeless was unacceptable. I was in denial. I called Zambia Police HQ and Matero to report the incidence (how the process went is a story for another day).
While at the dam, we got a story of what transpired- Prince together with other boys was playing football and they later decided to cool off by swimming in that death trap dam. He took off his clothes, sat on a rock to wash his legs, then unfortunately slipped into the water. Just like that we lost the boy. Those very familiar with the dam say that one side is deeper than other. The State through Fire and Rescue Services and Zambia Police failed to retrieve the body (They just did not do anything). In this unfortunate event, local boys in their act of altruism got into the water and retrieved the body- very sad and sombre atmosphere. Children shouldn’t die.
On 16th January, we put to rest the boy- Prince whose desire to serve at Mass was still very solid and inspired.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
