A fisherman in Namwala drowned over the weekend while another swam to safety after a hippo attacked the duo which was crossing the Kafue river.

Namwala District Commissioner, Eunice Nawa named the deceased as Hobby Shankompa of Kalundu area in Namwala central.

Ms. Nawa said Shankompa met his fate on Sunday around 19 hours after a hippo attacked the boat in which he and his colleague were in.

“The deceased was in the company of a named fisherman and were crossing the Kafue river at Zambwa fishing camp in Itezhi Tezhi district when a hippo attacked them and hit the canoe causing it to split into parts,” she explained.

She said the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers have already been dispatched to the scene of the accident to try and crop the hippos whose population is said to have increased in the area.

She however said the Namwala police have not yet retrieved the body of the deceased because they were waiting for ZAWA officers to kill the hippos before they could commence the search.

In another development, Namwala police over the weekend re-arrested one suspect who was among the five suspects that escaped from lawful custody from police cells.

Ms Nawa confirmed this but could not give further details as she had not yet received a report from police.

But sources within police named the suspect as Chiinda Moomba, who is facing a charge of stock theft.

Moomba was re-arrested after a tip off from members of the public.

Five suspects escaped from Namwala police cells a fortnight ago after overpowering a lone police officer that was on duty and locked him inside the cells before fleeing.

ZANIS

13 COMMENTS

walai nthwenu mputi business July 1, 2009 At 9:42 am

hahahahahahahahahahah yayayayaya hahahahahahah
Red Lipstick July 1, 2009 At 9:53 am

#1. Whats so funny???? We have just read some bad news and you go hahahahah instead of showing some sympathy? tefyo iya……
Observer July 1, 2009 At 9:56 am

could it be cos he was a HH cadre? ‘M’onkeys on MMD and ‘H’ippos on HH
walai nthwenu mputi business July 1, 2009 At 9:57 am

oh! sorry red lipusticki.. that laughter was meant for the other story..really sorry..ok mummy
Jacks' wife July 1, 2009 At 10:10 am

U people have sum sympathy. Umunenu nafwa sure.
Gluco July 1, 2009 At 10:30 am

Jacks’ wife, there goes Walai. S/he is got a slit personality.
May the Police do their job and retrieve the body. MHSRIP.
PY July 1, 2009 At 11:14 am

Does need to take the death of someone before hippos can be cropped? Its supposed to be an on going exercise with or without the occurence of such a tragedy.
Makweti M July 1, 2009 At 1:37 pm

I really symphathise with the loss of a human life in whatever circumstances.
However,i wonder what logic is there in killing the Hippos because a human being was killed.
Unless there was a pending issue on cropping them prior to the incidence,otherwise this is a very stupid reaction to an otherwsie unfortunate incident.
Changu mulamu July 1, 2009 At 5:31 pm

get rich or die trying
Muzo July 1, 2009 At 6:20 pm

Number 1 ninshi fyawama umonobe nafwa. That laughter is shocking to say the least.
Kelvin July 27, 2009 At 11:25 am

MMD officials were scared to view the scene as they are rumors that Monkeys petrol the area.
Nkandu July 28, 2009 At 10:56 pm

So sad, human, animal conflict…
Sad Indeed September 1, 2009 At 3:34 pm

Sad indeed for sure.It is dangerouse to cross these rivers in canoes and especially when you are not a good swimer like me