A 16-year-old boy has been killed by a crocodile while preparing boats for fishing on Lake Chifunabuli in Chief Mwansakombe’s Chiefdom in Luapula Province.
Luapula Province Police Commanding Officer Godfrey Mwanza who confirmed the incident to ZANIS, identified the deceased as Bwalya Lubumbe of Martin Mpula Village.
Mr Mwanza said the occurrence was on April 10, 2026, at around 15:00 hours, while the boy was in the company of two male relatives and the matter was only reported to police on April 13, 2026, by the victim’s relatives.
He said the attack details are that on Saturday, April 10, 2026, at approximately 14:00 hours, the deceased, together with Simon Mubulo, 17, and White Chime, 16, went to the shore of Lake Chifunabuli to prepare two boats for fishing.
While there, the deceased sailed one boat about 20 metres from the shore.
”Suddenly, a crocodile emerged from beneath the water, causing the boy to jump into the lake and was immediately attacked and cut in half by the reptile,” he said.
After witnessing the attack, the two companions began shouting for help and in a rescue attempt, residents rushed to the scene but could not locate the body.
Mr Mwanza narrated that on April 11, 2026, at around 16:00 hours, a fisherman identified as Second Mwape found the remains; the upper half of the body, floating on the lake.
The fisherman informed the relatives, who then alerted Chief Mwansakombe and after retrieval, the remains were buried on April 13, 2026.
