Avoid temptation of swimming in rivers

15 Jan, 2023 - 00:01 0 Views
Avoid temptation of swimming in rivers

The Sunday Mail

I had barely finished setting my drums to draw water from a river in Crowhill last weekend when I heard the sound of something plunging into the water, accompanied by heavy clapping of hands and laughter.

When I looked into the direction the sound had come from, I saw a group of about five boys taking turns to dive into the muddy water in their birthday suits.

Oblivious of the risk of drowning and contracting waterborne diseases, the chatty kids were having a time of their lives swimming in the muddy water, where frogs, worms, fish and other creatures are often seen.

Members of the community are known to bath in the river, where they also do their laundry and perform many other traditional rituals.

Budding romances are also often nurtured along rivers before they blossom into marriages. It is along rivers that people seeking jobs or good fortune are often seen being sprinkled with eggs, milk and other ointments by self-styled prophets and traditional healers.

Parents looking for their naughty children usually do so along the river to ensure they keep them away from harm’s way. There is just something about swimming that makes the lion in most young people roar.

Called “kubhaguja” and “kutuhwina”, among a host of other names, swimming is actually a favourite pasttime for children during the rainy season. So huge is the temptation that some would even miss school to leisurely take a dive into the water.

It is not unusual to find children, especially young boys, fighting or playing all sorts of games in water. They do so at the risk of drowning or getting injured because some people throw dangerous items like broken bottles, tins and disused chemical containers in dams. Some children even engage in swimming competitions in rivers. During my youth in the dusty streets of Glen Norah, we would often swim in streams and rivers around the high-density suburb, where elders would never miss the opportunity to discourage us from doing so.

Some elderly people living near the streams and rivers would often beat anyone they saw swimming as a way of protecting people’s lives, yet, back then, we viewed them as party spoilers.

They would even get to the extent of reporting to one’s parents that their child had a death wish, which needed to be plucked off by a whip.

Experts, however, warn that whether you are swimming, boating or even just relaxing on the bank, there are many hidden dangers that you may not be aware of.  They include strong currents and fast-flowing water, submerged objects such as rocks, snags and tree branches. Slippery banks, uneven surfaces, changing seasonal patterns, floodwater and cold water are some of the dangers associated with swimming.

Gentle reader, horseplay of any sort is discouraged near water bodies for it can lead to disaster. Again, if something, no matter how valuable, falls into the river, never try to retrieve it, as it may lead to death and injuries. Let us take care and avoid playing in water. Inotambika mughetto.

rosenthal.mutakati

@zimpapers.co.zw

 

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