Seven Children Among Nine Killed in Ruti Dam Kombi Tragedy

Police are investigating after a kombi carrying church members rolled into Ruti Dam, killing nine people, including seven children.

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BUHERA

Seven children, most of them under the age of 10, were among nine members of the Jehovah's Witnesses Church who died after a parked kombi rolled into Ruti Dam on the boundary between Buhera and Gutu districts on Friday.

According to an internal Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) memorandum seen by Chipinge Times, the victims were all from Chief Mazuru's area in Gutu District and were travelling to Murambinda Growth Point in Buhera to attend a church gathering. Police identified the deceased as Shumirai Madare (age not stated), Chido Mashongwa (6), Stanley Songo (8), Kimberly Kativu (8), Kelly Kativu (10), Tafara Mahofa (16), Letwin Ndlovu (19), Irene Makamba (6) and Kimberly Chirume (5).

According to the police memo, the accident involved a Nissan Caravan (registration AFR 4545) driven by Jones Chinouya of Chinouya Village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera. Investigators say Chinouya parked the vehicle on the dam wall and instructed passengers to board while luggage was still being loaded. The vehicle allegedly moved forward unexpectedly with 12 passengers inside, despite there being no one behind the steering wheel, before plunging into the water.

Two passengers, Lyna Makarati (49) of Manjengwa Village and Letwin Chirume (28) of Mudzekenyeke Village, both under Chief Mazuru, survived after breaking the vehicle's windows and escaping. Another survivor, Tafadzwa Dondo (16) of Chakanyuka Village, was reportedly thrown from the vehicle through a window and managed to swim to safety. Police said a five-year-old child was also ejected from the vehicle during the incident but was later found deceased. The group had reportedly spent the night near the dam before boarding the kombi in the early hours of Friday when the tragedy occurred.

The latest accident is the third fatal incident reported at Ruti Dam in recent weeks. About three weeks ago, two boys travelling to a church service drowned after the boat they were using capsized. In another separate incident, a mother, her two daughters, her son and her brother also drowned while attempting to cross the reservoir. The succession of fatal incidents has renewed concerns over safety at Ruti Dam, with community leaders expected to call for stronger safety measures around the reservoir. Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding Friday's accident are continuing.

Ruti Dam kombi accident