When duty calls…

...heroic

act by a senior police officer saves the day for marooned congregants

This for some would read like a script from some Hollywood movie or a fiction novel, but for members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu Church from Mbizo Suburb in Kwekwe, it’s a tale their grandchildren will have to believe when they narrate it in years to come.

It is a tale of a commuter omnibus which was swept away by heavy floods for about 30 metres before being stopped by trees on the river bank. The omnibus was submerged in water whilst carrying 22 passengers who later sought refuge on top of the vehicle.

What is more heartrending is the fact that rescue had to come about six hours later. One would imagine how the members who included children, women and men held on while on top of the commuter omnibus which was suspended in water given the river currency and the increasing water volumes, which, while on the roof of the vehicle, reached knee level.

But it is the adventure of Superintendent Crime Kwekwe District, Superintendent Kingstone Mushawembirimi who bravely took to the waters and retrieved the 20 marooned passengers one by one. Unfortunately one girl was swept away while the other could not make it to the roof and died.

The Outpost recently visited Kwekwe to get the facts of the story and here it is.

The Kwekwe Bridge is a low lying bridge about 12 Km along Kwekwe – Silobela Road and when full, the water often diverts from the main course.

On this particular day, due to the heavy rains that pounded the area, the river, it is said, was full to the extent that the water flushed with the higher level of the steep on both sides more than 20 meters further away from the edges of the bridge. It is said this was the first time the levels of water in the river reached that point since the year 2000.

The commuter omnibus ferrying the church members arrived at the bridge just before the hour of eight as they intended to cross to Silobela for an all-night church service. They were in song but tragedy struck as they prepared to descend down the steep slope towards the bridge.

“As we traveled in the commuter omnibus, we were all in song and the driver was traveling at a very good speed. All I remember is that I felt water on my feet and all of a sudden we were going down with the torrent,” said Madzibaba Cephas Makwenda.

Madzimai Miriro Tavengerwei who was saved together with her 2-year-old son Tashinga Dojiwe is still awestruck.

“I can’t even recall what transpired even up to date and I can’t speak of anything. I just found myself in the flooded river on top of an almost sinking commuter omnibus,” she said.

But the driver of the commuter omnibus, Tatenda Mativenga (25) explained what really transpired.

“As I reached the Kwekwe River, I saw that there was a lot of water in the river. I knew I was still very far from the bridge so I wanted to get closer to the bridge so that I would assess the volume of water in the river. The moment I was trying to stop the vehicle, I felt the vehicle had no balance anymore and it was suddenly swept by a heavy torrent downstream only to be blocked by huge tree branches.

“The commuter omnibus was submerged in water so I immediately got out through the window with the other men and we removed the window panels to help us and we started helping people out of the vehicle and we placed them on the roof of the commuter omnibus,” he said.

Unfortunately, one of the passengers, a lady passed on while another girl aged 5 years was swept away and could not be found immediately. All the survivors now crowded on the vehicle, while the able-bodied males had to take refuge on an acacia tree that was close waiting for help which seemed not to come any time soon.

“While hanging precariously on tree branches, we started to shout for help but many people could not see where we were as it was dark and all the place was covered in water. Several vehicles came and made a U-turn at the river leaving us in that position. But somehow, when a certain vehicle came, we had to shout and tell them to get in touch with the police,” said one of the survivors.

Call for help

At about 2000hrs, Superintendent Mushawembirimi who was the Duty Officer at Kwekwe District Headquarters received a call through the Duty Inspector and taking along with him some police officers from Amaveni and Traffic Police, he rushed to the scene.

He narrates the incident to The Outpost recently.

“When we arrived at the bridge, the driver almost made the same mistake of getting into the water but alert police officers in the cab had to warn him that he was getting into the river prompting the driver to stop immediately. We reversed the car to safety. We could hear people’s voices calling for help. We later told them that we were police officers who had come to help them.”

He said that the distance from the tarmac to the place they were trapped was long and they had to think fast on how to save the lives of the congregants. They also summoned resettled farmers close to the bridge so that they would help with torches and ropes.

Superintendent Mushawembirimi then phoned Kwekwe Fire Brigade whose modern fire equipment has a hydraulic ladder which he thought they could extend to the trapped victims. But when they came around midnight, the ladder they were waiting for was too short and could not reach to where the victims were.

Rescue Mission

“It is the time that I asked whether the fire brigade members had ropes. Unfortunately the rope they had was also too short to reach where the vehicle was. A local farmer who was there then went to his home and brought with him another piece which we joined. We threw the rope to the victims and asked one to tie the rope on himself up and we would pull them out but they could not do that as they seemed to be in shock.

“I opted to get into the water so I decided to test the depth and how powerful the current was. I tied myself on the waist as a safety measure and instructed whoever was holding the rope to pull me out in case I faced danger. I swam to the vehicle and when I reached it, I assured the victims that I was going to help them as some were crying.

“I asked for a volunteer to come on my back and I took the driver out first and when I saw the plan working I went back and started rescuing the most vulnerable starting with the youngest child. After carrying the children, I then went for the women and later the men. I carried them out one by one on my back until I went for the corpse of the lady who had died. I even retrieved some of the bags and some personal belongings of the victims. I searched for the missing child in the vehicle starting from the back seat and could not find her.”

The body of the little girl was later retrieved from the banks of the river the following day a few metres from the place of occurrence.

Imminent death

Superintendent Mushawembirimi explained why he had to embark on such a seemingly impossible mission.

“Any further delays would increase fatalities especially if the water levels were to increase, besides, waiting for Sub Aqua from Buchwa District would take more hours for them to be rescued, hence putting their lives further in danger. The victims who included children as young as nine months were part of those trapped and these could be affected by the cold weather and death was imminent.

“Remember these people were trapped in the flooding river for about four to five hours and they were dripping wet and cold. I thought of using my experience,” he said, adding that the hospital staff had confirmed that the kids and some of the adults had been affected by the cold and could not have lived for more hours.

The rescue mission ended at about 0330hours in the morning.  They quickly identified those who were critical especially children and ferried them to the hospital for medical attention.

The events that occurred on the day are still vivid in the minds of the survivors who attribute their survival to God’s power and the intervention by the local police who became their knight in shining armour.

“The vision of the accident is still fresh in my mind,” says Tatenda in an interview with this magazine in Kwekwe recently. He added, “My mindset towards the police has changed following this incident. I am one person honestly who did not like the police because of our battles on the roads with them. But I have learnt that the police are so much helpful and important. I owe my life to them (police).”

Madzibaba Munyaradzi Dzvimbo shared the same sentiments saying it was his first time he was helped by the police. He has respect for police officers now as he was impressed by the way they saved them.

“Even the fire brigade could not do a thing when they came until the police shefu had to come to our rescue.”

Water Experience

The senior officer said it was not by coincidence that he volunteered to get into the water. He insists that he has vast experience in water having been trained as a Launch Master in 1990 and became the Launch Master National Trainer since 1998 up to 2007 when he relinquished the post on promotion.

“I can say swimming is a profession to me. I have been a swimmer since my days at primary school. I even competed at the swimming competitions in the police many times. I would rescue those swimmers who would have failed on the endurance swim at Lake Kariba.

“I have saved several people from drowning. I also recall rescuing a Mozambican National in the Zambezi River which has a higher and stronger water currency than this Kwekwe River. The only challenge I had with this river is its anatomy, predators found, depth and as well as darkness,” said Superintendent Mushawembirimi.

The Outpost also understands that the vehicle incident was not the first to happen at that bridge, but before that horrific incident, two other vehicles had been swept away at the same bridge luckily they did not go far and no fatalities were recorded.

Awareness Campaigns

“Following the incident, we called our Community Relations Liaison Officers and carried out awareness campaigns warning commuter omnibus drivers not to cross flooded rivers said Superintendent Mushawembirimi.

But it is the heroics of this senior officer that has given the police plaudits from the Kwekwe community, his Officer Commanding, Chief Superintendent David Tiese, the fire brigade staff, the resettled farmers close to the river as well as subordinates who witnessed the incident.

“I am really shocked by the amount of dedication and bravery exhibited by my senior officer. He never delegated but instead decided to visit the scene physically. The risk that he took despite his rank is out of this world and this should be commended,” said Chief Superintendent Tiese while speaking to The Outpost.

Superintendent Mushawembirimi says that in his parting note, he will always use his experience in similar incidents.

 “I rescued them and will not hesitate to repeat the same when duty calls…”

The 1999 dream comes into fruition 18 years later

While doing Grade Five in Chimbwerere Village, Chief Chipuriro in the grimy lands of Guruve, Constable Kaswamunzira had a reverie in which he was working in a workshop. He was designing an electric car which used battery power only. He still remembers explaining to people, some whites,  how this car could work.

Spurred by this dream, Constable Kaswamunzira has designed and built an electric car powered by 36-volt batteries, which produce 200 amps.

The Outpost’s Chief Reporter Robert Zvidza recently traveled to the Eastern Highlands to cover this amazing story of an unusual creation by an innovative young police officer who seems to be seeing beyond the sky.

With limited resources, Constable Kaswamunzira says he had to hunt for a disused vehicle body where he put a gearbox, electric motor and batteries among other components to build the unusual car.

“I always wanted to do this project but I did not have resources to buy the requirements needed to start it despite having all the designs in my mind. I started raising the money for the project in November last year and began working on it in February this year and it’s now moving,” he said in an interview.

He was jubilant when after designing it, he saw that the car could move. He was even afraid of driving it but his workmate with whom he was working with on the project – Constable Solomon Munyanyi opted to go behind the wheel and give a test drive.

“The vehicle became the talk of the town as many people came around it at work. We then drove the vehicle to Chikanga bus terminus as well as to Dangamvura bus terminal. Some even followed it from Chikanga to Sakubva just to have a glimpse of the car moving. It was an attraction in the city because of its unique nature. We decided to end there and not to move with it and parked it in camp,” said Constable Kaswamunzira.

This reporter was afforded the chance to ride in the unique car and had a feel of how it operates. It is not fiction but very real, the car moves.

But his dream on an electric vehicle is not over yet as he wishes to design a car which can travel for over 4 000 kilometres without running out of power.

“Based on calculations, this car can travel up to 30 - 40 kilometres although it can travel even more. However, I want to add a charging system comprising solar panels so that the car travels from Cape to Cairo without power running out. My research has proved to me that the already built electric cars only travel for limited kilometres and I want to go an extra mile,” he said.

Technology has been Constable Kaswamunzira’s staple diet from an early age. He said he can design virtually anything from a windmill that generates electricity, grinding mill, electric bicycles among other machines.

“All my designs are inspired by dreams and visions which I see while I am asleep. Whenever I have a challenge in anything that I am making, a dream comes to me that same night informing me on how to overcome the challenge.

“I just love the use of technology to an extent that I always try to make my life easier through the use of technology,” he said.

He speaks of other dreams which he still needs to fulfill.

Constable Kaswamunzira says after dreaming of this car he has made, he also dreamt himself designing a helicopter while in grade seven in 2001.

“I still remember every component of that helicopter.  The difference of this helicopter to the ones which we are used to is the type of fuel used. The helicopter that I will design will use our ordinary fuels - diesel and petrol rather than jet fuel,” said Constable Kaswamunzira.

He also vividly remembers another dream where he designed an automatic incubator which is usable in rural areas as it will be powered by batteries only.

“Given the resources, I can still make these things,” he challenged.

Having made his first major invention, Constable Kaswamunzira is dreaming of a day he will be allowed to showcase his talents.

Constable Kaswamunzira was born at Howard Hospital and grew up in Guruve in Mashonaland Central Province where he did his education at Kondo Primary and Secondary Schools. His love for technology started at an early stage while at secondary school where he did physical science. He was already involved in designing several machines with the help of his physics teacher, the late Mr. Mutyambizi who discovered his talent.

He came out well at O’ Level but did not manage to proceed to Advanced Level. He continued with some of his inventions and was employed as an Electric Engineer by a local chrome mine - Sun hi Mine in 2006 and 2007.

One day, a well-wisher, Mr. Newman Muzvondiwa, a local farmer and former engineering lecturer recommended him to Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) to train as an Engineer based on his talent without Advanced Level education.

“I was told to bring samples of my inventions and the lecturers were awed after seeing my machines. I took with me a landline phone which I had made as well as a lawnmower and a groundnuts sheller and they were very much impressed. I, however, failed to enroll in 2008 after the semesters were postponed several times due to the economic challenges then that negatively impacted on several institutions,” he said.

He added; “Another local white farmer, the late Mr. Malcom Francis took me to Kariba after seeing my talent. He wanted me to help him modify and extend his Vhundu Ful Houseboat which parks at the Andora Harbour in Lake Kariba.

“I helped with the designs where we fitted two lorry engines, put a swimming pool and cabins. The job took one and a half years. The designs were very difficult that’s why we took a long time.”

Constable Kaswamunzira’s desire to serve the country saw him joining the police in June 2011 and was posted to ZRP Mutare Central upon completion of training.

He believes his knowledge is far ahead of what is taught in universities in Africa and has an ambition to one day go to Japan and copy their technology which he intends to bring back to Zimbabwe.

“I think to attend African Universities is a waste of time for me because there is nothing to learn. I want to at least go to countries like Japan and once I spend a year or two there I know I will be able to develop from their modern technology. I am good at copying things and develop them further. This will hugely help the country,” he said.

“Basically, I can design anything but I only lack resources. If I had the resources, I could have started building this car from its body but I had to look for a disused car body to put up my ideas.

“Given a chance, I can build electric cars for the ZRP for scene attendance, or electric cycles for patrols. I can even design helicopters that will use our normal fuel for air patrols. That is my dream. I believe this will save the organisation money that is spent on fuel and direct it to other policing needs,” Constable Kaswamuzira told The Outpost.

The young and ambitious police officer has maintained that he believes in himself. Socially he is a person who is so much into himself and maintains a private life. He believes too many friends are bad because some of them try and derail his plans to invent thinking they are outrageous. 

Mr. Muzvondiwa said that Kaswamunzira had a talent that was from inside him because he could make unusual inventions.

“I realised his talent was natural and I challenged him to make something since I am also into engineering. He did it with ease and that is when I recommended that he goes to Chinhoyi University of Technology to study further. He could not do so due to financial constraints. I wish he is given a chance and all the resources to make all what he thinks he can achieve because I believe in his capability. I also wish him to get sponsorship even from the government so that he goes to countries like Japan where I think he will benefit more knowledge and skills to help the country,” said Mr. Muzvondiwa in a tele-interview.

His classmate for four years, Callistus Magaya, who later pursued a different trajectory at the University of Zimbabwe described Constable Kaswamunzira as a genius from his school days.

“Though he was too quiet, he had a different mind. Firstly, he is the only person to pass mathematics in our stream. He started talking about building a helicopter while we were in form three but we never took him seriously, we thought he was mad. But we later realised it was his talent,” he said.