Body of Driver Swept Away by Deka River Recovered Two Weeks Later

The body of a 31-year-old man from Hwange District, who was swept away while attempting to drive through the flooded Deka River, has been recovered nearly two weeks later. Washington Ncube, a resident of Kasase Village in Ward 9, was found last Friday in Mwemba Village, Kakunka area, under Chief Hwange.

Ncube went missing on January 14 at around 8 pm while driving back to Hwange town after dropping off a passenger in Mashala Village. He attempted to cross the swollen river, which had burst its banks following heavy rainfall. The body was discovered about 20 kilometers downstream from the point where he was swept away.

A villager found Ncube's body while running errands in nearby bushes. The villager's dogs had started barking and ran towards the riverbank, leading him to the body, which was lying face down. Although the body showed signs of decomposition, it had not been mutilated.

The body was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital for a post-mortem examination and was later buried on Saturday evening at his rural home. Ward 10 councillor Lethukuthula Ngwenya expressed condolences to the family, noting that the deceased's twin brother and uncle had also died in separate drowning incidents several years ago.

The tragic incident highlights the dangers of attempting to cross flooded rivers, and the community is left to mourn the loss of another life. The family has been left to deal with the emotional aftermath of losing another loved one in a similar incident