Background information, as 8 prophets drown during baptism

Drowning incidents are common in Zimbabwe as they are elsewhere, in some cases it could be as a result of people trying to cross flooded rivers.

It is also not unheard of, children drowning while playing in water bodies.

In all these cases the Zimbabwe Republic Police always call for caution when venturing into water bodies, while urging parents to monitor children when they are playing.

Apparently, another trend which has taken the nation with shock is drowning of people during baptism ceremonies.

In the years goneby, reports of congregants and prophets drowning made headlines.

In 2016, Six children died while being baptised in a river in eastern Zimbabwe, police said on Wednesday, adding that the organisers of the event had tried to flee before being caught.

In 2018, a pastor drowned a woman during baptism.

Sometime in June this year 3 congregants drowned during baptism and their bodies resurfaced 7 days later.

Only yesterday, eight Prophets of the Johane Masowe eChishanu Jeandayi Sect died in Rushinga at a baptism ceremony.

Mashonaland Central Acting Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo confirmed the incident.

The incident took place at around 2pm at the Hungumwe River which lies at the confluence of Mazowe Tsvinje river when 30 prophets fell into a trance and stampeded into the river.

Congregants managed to rescue the other prophets but 8 drowned in the incident. ZBC