Six children died on Tuesday morning when a baptism ceremony conducted by two self-proclaimed prophets along Mutorahuku stream in Muriwo village, Chivhu, Mashonaland East, ended in disaster.
by BLESSED MHLANGA/ JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The Dzvuke family lost three children Tafadzwa (5), Tinotenda (3) and Emmanuel (7), while the Pfumbidza family lost two children Shamiso (4) and Patience (9). Blessed Muvadi (1) also died during the ceremony.
Villagers, who gathered at the Dzvuke homestead speculated that the children may have been killed for ritual purposes, while others attributed the deaths to the near freezing temperatures that characterised the area on the fateful day.
Francis Pfumbidzai, the father of two of the deceased children, was in shock and could not believe that his children had died during baptism.
Ward 26 councillor, Roselyn Mudzviti said the community had been thrown into mourning and shock because nothing of that sort had been experienced in Chivhu.
“This is the first time we have encountered such an incident. It was sad to see the bodies of the children scattered at the pakirawa (shrine) after the baptism. We are confused and we really do not know the caused their deaths,” she said.
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Family spokesperson, Edmond Dzvuke appealed to well-wishers to assist them with coffins and food, among other things, as the family was unable to fund the funerals.
Chikomba East legislator, Edgar Mbwembwe yesterday donated six bags of maize to the deceased families.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said two other children, who survived the baptism, were admitted at Sadza District Hospital.
The eight had been taken for baptism by two self-proclaimed prophets, Maud Dzuke (30) and Jane Ruvinga (34), who have since been arrested and charged with culpable homicide.
“Six juveniles died at the shrine, while the other two were ferried to Sadza District Hospital,” Charamba said.
