UNDETTERED Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education
officials continued to search for their missing colleague whose vehicle was
swept away in heavy rains on Monday and ended up finding the body yesterday
after police had called off the search.
Mr Richard Nyandoro, an Education Ministry accountant was
travelling with Ms Samukeliso Dlamini, who was the Gwanda District Schools
Inspector (DSI) when their vehicle was swept away following heavy rains on
Monday evening at Mamsisi River Bridge in Ntalale Ward, Gwanda South.
Their vehicle was
found by villagers on Tuesday morning along the river about 200 metres from the
bridge lying on its roof.
Ms Dlamini’s body was recovered on Wednesday at around 6PM
in a dam about eight kilometres from the bridge where the incident occurred as
they were driving from Ntalale where they had gone on duty.
Since Monday efforts to locate Mr Nyandoro had been
fruitless. The police sub aqua unit from Bulawayo decided to abandon the search
on Thursday at around 6PM after a two day search.
Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director Mr Lifias
Masukume said a team comprising Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education
officials, Gwanda Assistant District Administrator, community members and
Nyandoro’s relatives continued with the search yesterday morning which led to
recovery of the body.
A Ministry official found the body on the edge of the
Mhenebolamba Dam.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief
Inspector Philisani Ndebele said police were called to the scene.
“I can confirm that the body which was still missing has
been found at the dam. Police have been alerted to attend the scene, “he said.
Ntalale Ward councillor, Mr Coster Ndlovu who spent the
whole day on Thursday at the scene said police called off the search at around
6PM.
He said the sub aqua team advised villagers to visit the
nearest police station if anything arose.
“I spent the whole day at the scene where the sub aqua team
was conducting the search. They searched the entire dam but found nothing. As
villagers we ended searching from the dam going back to the bridge where we had
started.
“The sub aqua team told us that they were calling off the
search as they had done their best without luck. They told villagers to visit
Guyu Police Station once we discovered anything and then they will be summoned.
They also tasked us as community leaders to mobilise community members to
continue with the search, “he said.
Meanwhile, teachers have bemoaned the death of their
colleague, Ms Dlamini. The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive officer,
Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, said it is sad that the Ministry lost the only female DSI in
the province at a time when Government is advocating for gender balance through
putting women in decision-making positions.
“This loss came as a blow to both Government and us because
we have lost a hardworking woman who had put women on the map. This is a time
when Government is advocating for gender balance through women empowerment,” he
said.
Mr Ndlovu said it is the union’s desire to see more women
in the Ministry taking up leadership positions.
“Ms Dlamini was a dedicated worker and l believe this
incident caught her by surprise. I encourage my colleagues that as we are
carrying our professional duties let’s be careful about our lives. Life lost
cannot be compensated,” he said.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president,
Dr Takavafira Zhou said the fact that the two met their fate on duty makes them
academic heroes.
“We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the
bereaved families and the education fraternity at large. Their loss is our loss
and their untimely death has robbed the education sector and the nation of
dedicated cadres,” said Dr Zhou. Chronicle
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