NetOne Mourns Technician Who Drowned In Runde River

State-owned telecoms firm NetOne has consoled the Zvarimwa family following the death of Samson Zvarimwa, who was employed as a technician by the mobile network operator.

Zvarimwa died when the NetOne vehicle he was driving was swept off the low-level Chilonga Bridge across the Runde River on Saturday last week. NetOne said in a statement:

NetOne wishes to advise of the untimely death of Samson Zvarimwa our valued technician, in a tragic accident.

We are saddened by the loss of our hardworking member of the NetOne family.

The Board, Management and Staff wish to express their deepest condolences to the Zvarimwa family.

Buy Samsung, itel, Redmi smartphones in Zimbabwe

WhatsApp: +263715068543

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zvarimwa family during this difficult time.

May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.

Reports indicate that Zvarimwa (48) worked at NetOne, Balmain Building in Masvingo and stayed in the Runyararo North West suburb.

When the accident occurred, he was reportedly travelling with an alleged lover identified as Loice Maradze (40), a money changer in Masvingo.

Zvarimwa and Maradze reportedly travelled together from Masvingo to Chiredzi South, a journey of more than 200km.

The tragic incident occurred as they were coming back from Chikombedzi after filling a diesel-powered generator at a mobile base station in the area.

They used a longer route to Chikombedzi through Mupapa which is not prone to floods but decided to use the shorter route assuming that the water level at the bridge had subsided.

The deceased were found trapped inside the car after villagers used a rope to pull the vehicle out of the flooded Runde River.

Zvarimwa is survived by his wife, Diana and 2 children.

Zvarimwa’s sister Jessie Mandebvu said Zvarimwa will be laid to rest in Jichidza, Nhopi area in Zaka on Wednesday, 4 May.

Mandebvu, however, said that she did not know the woman who was in the company of her brother.

Meanwhile, vehicles have been temporarily banned from using the Chilonga Bridge following a spate of drownings as vehicles trying to cross the river have been swept away by floods and submerged in water.

Chiredzi District Civil Protection Unit chair and district development coordinator Lovemore Chisema announced the temporary closure of the bridge on Monday. He said:

We have decided to temporarily close Chilonga Bridge following a spate of drownings caused by vehicles that either fall into the river after drivers lose control while trying to negotiate the low-lying submerged structure or are swept away by floods.

The bridge will only be reopened once it is deemed safe to cross after water levels go down.

Mupapa Bridge is the current viable alternative for those travelling from either Chiredzi to Chikombedzi or vice versa. It’s a longer, but safe route.

More: Pindula News