Zwelitsha residents (Zwezwe), Khayelitsha, have been left dumbfounded after a one-year-old baby drowned in a bucket of water.
The baby boy was found by his father on Monday morning 7 November when he picked up the bucket.
The child was allegedly with his mother when he went missing on Sunday afternoon 6 November.
It is believed the mother was having fun when the child disappeared.
According to some residents, a frantic search ensued after it became clear that the child had gone “missing”.
Residents claim the child was locked inside the shack by his mother. She then left to have fun.
Following the discovery, angry residents confronted the mother accusing her of child neglect.
She then decided to run away, fearing for her life.
A 44-year-old resident told City Vision they searched for the child immediately after being alerted that he was missing.
“The mother informed the neighbours the child was missing. We immediately assisted in searching for the child.
Police were also informed, and we continued to search until the night,” said a resident.
“I got the shock of my life to hear the child we have been looking for all along was found drowned inside their shack.
“It never came into our minds to look for the child inside the bucket as we thought he might have wandered along the road while the mother was busy drinking,” said the mother of three.
Harare police spokesperson Cpt Siyabulela Vukubi confirmed the incident.
“Harare police attended a scene this morning Monday 7 November at about 06:00 in Zwelitsha, Harare where they encountered a body of a one-year-old baby boy drowned in a bucket of water.
“It was reported that the child went missing on Sunday 6 November during the day and the search was conducted which proved to be unsuccessful,” said Vukubi.
He said the child was only discovered by his biological father inside the bucket in the kitchen in their own home.
“The child was declared dead on the scene.
“Police have opened an inquest docket as well as a case of negligence for investigation.
“No arrest has been made as yet,” said Vukubi.