An Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide after a three-year-old child tragically drowned in a school swimming pool in Harare.
Martha Karonda Rice, aged 50, was arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 5 June 2025. The incident, which occurred the previous day at St Anne’s Primary School in Mabelreign, has left parents and the local community reeling in shock.
According to state prosecutors, Karonda Rice was the only adult supervising a group of seven ECD pupils when the tragedy occurred. During the course of the morning, she allegedly left the children unattended and went into the main school building. The swimming pool gate was reportedly left open.
Child wandered into swimming pool
During her absence, three-year-old Elroy Tinayeishe Mutandiro is believed to have wandered away from the group. He reportedly entered the pool area through the unsecured gate and fell into the water.
He was later found unresponsive in the pool. Emergency services were called, but despite attempts to resuscitate him, Elroy was pronounced dead on site.
The incident was reported to police, and Karonda Rice was arrested later that afternoon. She was formally charged with culpable homicide on the grounds of alleged negligence that contributed to the child’s death.
Court documents allege that her failure to supervise the children and secure the swimming pool area amounted to gross negligence.
Remanded in custody
The magistrate denied her application for bail and ordered that she remain in custody pending further investigations. The case has been remanded, and she is expected to return to court in the coming weeks.
Karonda Rice is a resident of Rugare, a high-density suburb in Harare. She has been teaching at St Anne’s Primary School for several years.
The school has not yet commented on the incident. Parents who spoke to this publication expressed heartbreak and concern over the safety measures in place at the school. Many questioned how a child could access a swimming pool without adult supervision.
Calls for better safety at schools
Questions are being raised about whether ECD classrooms are being adequately staffed and whether proper protocols are being followed.
No funeral details for Elroy Tinayeishe Mutandiro have been made public as yet. His family is said to be devastated by the loss.
