Victoria Falls – The serene beauty of the Zambezi River has been marred by tragedy after two members of the Followers of Jesus Christ of God: Ekuphileni in Zion apostolic sect drowned during a baptism ceremony on Saturday. Following an intensive multi-agency search and rescue operation, the bodies of the two men have now been located.
The victims, identified as Alpha Moyo, 27, and Mehluli Sibanda, 30, were swept away by strong currents while baptising a congregant at gorge number 6 on Saturday morning. National Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the initial disappearance, detailing how a sudden wave overwhelmed the two men.
According to police reports, the incident occurred around 7 AM when 15 congregants, led by Bishop Daniel Tshuma, ventured into the Zambezi River for a baptismal service. While baptising the third person, disaster struck as a powerful wave swept Moyo and Sibanda away. Another member of the congregation, Sunboy Hwedza, narrowly escaped a similar fate by clinging to a rock.
The search and rescue mission, a collaborative effort involving the ZRP Victoria Falls, CID, Zimbabwe National Parks, Victoria Falls Rafting Association, and fellow church members, yielded its first grim discovery on Monday afternoon. Sources involved in the operation confirmed that the body found at Rapid 8 was successfully retrieved and transported to the mortuary.
Mr Philani Moyo, who is leading the rescue operation, confirmed that the body was found on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River. The remains are expected to be transferred to a local mortuary for post-mortem examinations and formal identification, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue.
The recovery of the second body, spotted at Rapid 13, proved more challenging due to the treacherous conditions of the river. Strong currents and rocky terrain hampered initial efforts, but rescue teams persevered. Eventually, the second body was also recovered.
This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by Zimbabwe’s rivers, particularly during religious ceremonies. While the Zambezi River is a source of life and beauty, its powerful currents can be unforgiving.
Sadly, this is not the first time that members of apostolic sects have tragically drowned during baptism ceremonies in Zimbabwe. A similar incident occurred in November 2014, when Zenzo Moyo (24), a self-styled prophet from the Israel Mpanga Apostolic sect in Zvishavane, drowned in the Shave River after baptising some of his church members.
According to reports from that time, Moyo mysteriously disappeared under the water as he walked out of the river after the baptism, close to Dadaya High School. A fellow congregant, Tanatswa Zhou, described the terrifying moment: “I think he was pulled by a mermaid because the force was too much. Church members jumped into the water to try and save him, but he was nowhere to be found.”
Following a two-day search, the police’s sub aqua unit eventually retrieved Moyo’s body, finding his legs stuck in the mud. The officer in charge at Zvishavane police station, Inspector Goko, commented at the time: “We are yet to compile a detailed report over the death occurrence, but his (Moyo’s) body was found by the Fairbridge Sub Aqua Unit and was taken to Zvishavane District Hospital. The rainy season is coming and I urge members of the public to avoid crossing flooded rivers to avoid deaths caused by drowning.”
The Shave River incident also evoked memories of another tragedy in 2011, when a Mandava High schoolgirl drowned at the same spot while bathing, leading some to speculate about the presence of mermaids in the river.
As investigations into the Zambezi River tragedy continue, authorities are urging members of the public to exercise extreme caution when near bodies of water, especially during religious ceremonies.
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