adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A FISHING expedition turned tragic after a 16-year-old Mwenezi girl died in a crocodile attack in Runde River on New Year’s Day, Chief Chitanga has confirmed. Mercy Karashaka of Village 2, Mafura Ranch under Chief Chitanga was in the company of her mother around 2PM on Thursday when she was attacked by the crocodile.
The chief said the girl managed to free herself from the crocodile’s grip, but died minutes later from excessive bleeding.
Mercy’s mother Violet Jamu, 39, ran off when her daughter was being attacked, screaming for help.
Two villagers who responded to her cries found the girl already dead on the river bank.
Chief Chitanga said the mother and daughter had been fishing in the river using nets.
“Mercy was in water attempting to set nets while Jamu was on the river bank. While in the middle of setting nets, a crocodile appeared from the back and attacked her. She managed to slip from the crocodile’s grip and came out of the river to the river bank but had sustained serious wounds. She then fell down whilst bleeding and died,” said Chief Chitanga.
Jamu’s screams attracted the attention of two villagers Megaton Mlambo and Geisha Kumbire who rushed to the scene, but found the girl already dead.
“A formal report was made to Neshuro Police who attended the scene. Postmortem was however, waived,” added Chief Chitanga.
The chief warned people against fishing in crocodile-infested water bodies saying they risk being attacked.
“I have learnt with shock of this tragedy and I would want to warn people against fishing in rivers known to harbour crocodiles like Runde River.
During the rains crocodiles are mobile and people should be on the look-out,” he said.
Cases of crocodile attacks, most of them fatal, are common in Masvingo with a number of fish poachers having lost their lives during fishing expeditions.
In February last year, a 30-year-old man was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing in Chegwite Dam.
In July of the same year, Janet Sikhosana,33, from Mwenezi’s Sovelele Resettlement, was fatally attacked by a crocodile while fishing in Mwenezi River.
Online Reporter