Paul Nyathi

A Gwanda based police officer is reported to have drowned while bathing in the notorious Mtshabezi River across the ZRP police camp in the town.

The officer is reported to have gone for a bath in the river with his wife and kid on Thursday after the town’s water supply was cut off following a twenty four hour ZESA Loadshedding which meant the water pump station would not pump water for the 20 000 residents.

The police constable, identified as Sgt Maware, believed to be in his early 20s, drowned at around 5pm as he took a bath where tales of mermaids causing people to disappear are scaring residents.

Maware was retrieved from the river on Friday morning by members of the sub aqua unit hours after he drowned.