It started as an ordinary afternoon by the river.
Eleven year old Aziyele Mulauzi had gone to the Lutembwe River in Kasenengwa District with his 19 year old sister, Mariah Mulauzi, and their 14 year old cousin to catch fish using a mosquito net. None of them could have imagined how quickly the day would turn into tragedy.
According to Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba, the incident happened between 14:00 and 15:00 hours on August 5, 2026, in Magenza Village.
Police say Aziyele waded into a deeper, narrower section of the river while fishing. He reportedly lost his balance and fell into deep water. Despite trying to swim back to safety, he became weak and started drowning.
Seeing her younger brother in danger, Mariah, a Form Three pupil at Mboza Secondary School, immediately entered the water in an attempt to save him.
Sadly, she was also overcome by the deep water, and both siblings drowned.
Their 14 year old cousin, who had witnessed the incident, ran back to the village to alert their father. The matter was later reported to police, who rushed to the scene.
Working alongside community members, officers managed to retrieve the bodies from the Lutembwe River before carrying out a physical examination.
Police say there is no suspicion of foul play. The family has been advised to proceed with burial while ensuring the graves are properly marked should a post mortem examination become necessary at a later stage.
The heartbreaking incident serves as another reminder of the dangers of entering unfamiliar or deep water, especially during fishing activities, where conditions can change in an instant.
Source: Zambia Daily Mail