Harare City Council corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme confirmed that Devon Mukwaira drowned, at George Hartley Swimming Pool at Stodart Hall.
The boy was accompanied by his two friends, one in Grade Zero and the other in Grade Two. “It is true there is a child who drowned, but parents should not allow their children to get to swimming pools unaccompanied,” he said.
“Parents should take their children for swimming lessons so that in case of emergency they can help themselves.”
A seven year old boy drowned in a swimming pool in Mbare last Sunday.
Mr Chideme said the city council had staff to teach both children and adults to swim at all their swimming pools. “In this case it’s unfortunate that the security guard whom we contracted from a private security company to guard the premises was absent when the accident happened,” he said.
The father of the deceased, Mr Noel Mukwaira, blasted the city council for not securing the swimming pool and failure to follow standard procedure to ensure the safety of children.
“There was no guard at the swimming pool and he only came an hour later when I had already gone to report to the police and also the water was not drained since they had closed for winter.”