Body of a fisher lady found mauled by crocodiles in Hwange

The body of a Hwange woman who has been missing since Saturday has been found in the flooded and crocodile infested Matetsi River in Hwange.

The woman who is in her mid thirties is said to have left home going on a lone fishing expedition early hours of Saturday morning and did not return home prompting for a massive search for her. Some of her fishing equipment was found on the banks of the heavily flooded river raising suspicions that she my have been swept by the river or pulled into the river by the predatory crocodiles.

A search for her body in the river ensued until Tuesday morning when remains of her body were found in the river with the crocodiles still feasting on it. Most of the body parts had already been devoured by the crocodiles and only the upper part of the body was recovered in a very advanced state of decomposition.

Matetsi and Deka Rivers in Hwange are well known for their heavy flooding this time of the year and at the same time providing a very good opportunity for fishermen to do their fishing. The poor community of Matetsi area then find a perfect opportunity to harvest a living from the fish as they go on a fishing spree albeit with the dangers of the floods.

It is during this fishing season that the crocodiles find an opportunity to also go out and hunt for the fishermen on the banks of the rivers. Several crocodile attacks have been reported on the rivers and authorities have always been warning people to desist from fishing at these banks or at least exercise extreme caution when they do the fishing. Villagers have always been encouraged not to go on lone fishing expeditions as they become easy targets for the crocodiles.

Details of the deceased woman are still be kept until her next of kin have been advised.

Meanwhile reports from the coal mining town of Hwange also state that Chief Mvuthu of Hwange has died. He was 53.

Chief Mvuthu died last night at Hwange Colliery Hospital after being in and out of hospital for some time.

Born on the 10th of October in 1961 in Hwange, the late Chief, whose full name is Nyangezizwe Mlotshwa, grew up in district and later worked for the Hwange Colliery Mine in the workshop section. At the time of his death, Chief Mvuthu was the Chairperson of the Hwange Community Share Ownership Trust.

He is survived by his wife Epiphania and three children all girls. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.