By Munacho Gwamanda-Seven children from the Green Valley suburb in Goromonzi have tragically drowned in a dam described by locals as a “death trap.” 

The incidents occurred between November last year and January this year, with the latest victim, a 16-year-old boy, succumbing to the dam’s perilous waters on Tuesday.

The dam, situated east of Harare in Goromonzi district, features a dam wall over five meters high that creates an alluring artificial waterfall.

While it may appear harmless, the deep waters behind the wall and floating weeds mask a lethal danger, particularly during the rainy season when water levels rise.

Residents voiced their concerns about the site, which has become a magnet for children. “On the surface, there is a lot of floating weeds, but the depth behind the dam wall is deceptive. Children swim there and drown,” said one local.

Another resident shared chilling accounts of strange occurrences in the dam. “There are stories of a mermaid. I once saw a whirlwind from the eastern side fall into the water, and the water rose into the air. Everyone fled, fearing for their lives.”

Calls for action are growing louder as locals urge authorities to secure the area. “We need a fence or concrete barrier with razor wire to prevent children from accessing the water,” a concerned resident suggested.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies drowning as a leading cause of death among children globally, with over 236,000 lives lost annually. 

For Green Valley, this grim statistic is all too real, leaving families mourning and the community demanding safety measures to prevent further tragedies.