Suspected fish poacher attacked by hippopotamus

A 46-year-old suspected fish poacher drowned after his home-made canoe was attacked by a hippopotamus at Gungwa Dam outside Beit Bridge.

Insp Peter Zhanero of the police said the incident occurred on Saturday at around 16:00. The deceased was later identified as Mr Simbarashe Maramba of Makaruzi Village.

"It is suspected that Maramba went out fishing in the company of two friends, Messrs Tawanashe Mandirizho and Clemence Nhamo. Each one of them was in a home-made canoe. When Maramba was in the middle of the dam, he was confronted by a hippopotamus who attacked the canoe, resulting in its capsizing," said Zhanero.

Maramba screamed for help as he was trying to swim out of the water, but could not make it and subsequently drowned. “His friends tried to rescue him, but he drowned before they reached him," said Zhanero.

The body was retrieved two days later by the police and taken to the local mortuary.

News - Date: 27 September 2013

Mashudu Netsianda

Mashudu Netsianda is our correspondent in Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. He joined us in 2006, writing both local and international stories. He had worked for several Zimbabwean publications, as well as the Times of Swaziland. Mashudu received his training at the School of Mass Communication in Harare.

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