Two civil servants in Zambezi District have died after attempting to cross a river in search of mobile internet connectivity to submit their monthly reports.
The victims, a teacher and a health worker, drowned on Tuesday afternoon when the dugout canoe they were using capsized on the Lutembwe River.
North-Western Province Police Commanding Officer Brighton Siwale confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as 32-year-old Teddy Sakandula, a class teacher at Nyachikayi Primary School, and 31-year-old Freddy Sapilinya, a health worker at Nyachikayi Health Centre under the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ).
The incident occurred around 12:00 hours in the Nyachikayi area on the western bank of the Lutembwe River, about 196 kilometres from Zambezi Town.
Police said the two men boarded a dugout canoe in an attempt to cross the river to access mobile network connectivity from the other side so they could submit their reports.
Their attempt ended in tragedy midway through the crossing.
“Unfortunately, while in the middle of the river, the canoe capsized due to strong water current. Both occupants failed to swim and subsequently drowned,” Siwale said.
The bodies were later retrieved from the river and are awaiting transportation to the mortuary at Zambezi District Hospital.
Police have since opened an inquiry into the incident.
