Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
MSUNA — When death came snapping, one man punched back!
In the heart of Msuna, in the quiet village of Kanjeza under Simangani ward, a gripping tale of courage and devotion has stirred the community and beyond. Oliver Nyoni, a local village head, risked his life and fought off a crocodile with his bare hands to save his wife, Virginia, from its deadly jaws.
It was an ordinary morning when Virginia walked to the Deka River, a tributary of the Zambezi, to fetch water. The village, which has over 76 households, has no borehole — leaving residents with no choice but to rely on the crocodile-infested river.
“I was coming from the irrigation field about 200 metres away when I saw her being dragged into the water,” Oliver recounted, eyes clouded with the memory. “The crocodile had pulled her about 30 metres in. I jumped in without thinking. Her thigh was torn, and she was clutching her bleeding hand. I kept hitting the crocodile until it let go.”
Oliver’s desperate struggle didn’t end there. After pulling Virginia to safety, the crocodile emerged again and charged. “I had to leave her on the ground and run at it shouting,” he said. “Only then did it turn and retreat.”
Virginia was badly injured, with deep wounds to her thigh and hand. She was rushed to the nearest clinic by a local safari operator, mobilised by fellow villagers, before being transferred to Hwange Colliery hospital. She remains in recovery, fortunate to be alive.
The shocking attack is just one in a string of crocodile incidents at Deka River. Three others have been mauled in recent months, with buckets snatched mid-draw, and women fetching water forced to play daily games of life and death.
“We are risking our lives for water. No borehole. No protection. Just fear,” said a distressed villager.
Ward councillor, Lethu Ngwenya, called the situation unacceptable.
“I’ve tabled this with council. We’re engaging Government and NGOs. These villagers need urgent help.”
The crocodile that attacked Virginia was gunned down on Wednesday, but villagers slammed Zimparks for dragging their feet during emergencies.
“They always come too late, after blood has spilled,” one villager fumed.
Hwange East MP, Joseph Bonda recently grilled Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos over the area’s continued lack of access to clean water. With over 76 households relying on a deadly river, locals say the time for talk is over.
As for Oliver, the humble hero who stared death in the eye to save his wife, he remains down to earth: “We were lucky this time,” he said. “But we can’t keep living like this. Next time, someone won’t be so lucky.”
B-Metro salutes the brave hearts of Msuna — where love is stronger than fear and a husband’s courage roared louder than a crocodile’s bite.
