By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Wild animals in and around Lake Kariba have killed eight people over the past two months, prompting authorities to urge residents to exercise extreme caution, particularly when fishing or moving near the water.
Among the victims, four individuals were fatally attacked by crocodiles, three lost their lives due to elephant encounters, and one was killed by a hippopotamus.
The latest incident involved 32-year-old Esther Siachikuyu, a resident of Old Hararians NAUZ in Kariba, who was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing.
The tragic incident unfolded when Siachikuyu, along with her friends, was fishing. Her body was retrieved with the assistance of Ryan Fernoughty, a resident of Old Hararians, who utilized his speedboat and fish finder to locate the remains.
According to police reports, Siachikuyu was fishing with Councilia Chaguduma and seven others who alerted Fernoughty after the attack. In an interview with Gemnation, an eyewitness, Councilman Chaguduma, expressed her shock regarding the incident.
“The now deceased Esther was fishing on the shoreline of the lake, seated on a bucket about one and a half meters from the water. Suddenly, a crocodile emerged from the lake, hit the bucket with its tail, causing her to fall.
The crocodile then waited for her to stand up before grabbing her by the waist and dragging her into the lake.
“We were all women and ran in different directions. By the time we returned to assist her, she was already in the water, fighting with the crocodile. We tried to throw stones and sticks, but it didn’t help,” she recounted.
In an interview, Chief Superintendent Pepukai Mhiripiri, the Officer Commanding Kariba District, voiced his concerns over the alarming rise in attacks.
“We are disturbed by this incident. I urge people to avoid fishing in deep waters,” Mhiripiri said. He announced that the police would soon conduct awareness campaigns to educate the fishing community on the dangers they might face.
Timirepi Mudzingwa, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, echoed these sentiments.
“We always advise the community to stay away from water bodies and to be vigilant around the banks of the lake before fishing. It is unfortunate that another life has been lost,” he stated.
Reports indicate that Siachikuyu and her friends were fishing along the shores of Lake Kariba when she fell victim to the crocodile attack, highlighting the urgent need for increased safety awareness in the region.
About Author
