Man drowns trying to retrieve springbok at a dam

A 24-YEAR-OLD man from Fort Rixon in Insiza District drowned at a dam in Debshan Ranch while trying to retrieve a springbok he and his two colleagues had killed.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Christopher Ngwenya, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday at about 11am. He identified the man as Clearance Sweswe from Stand 21 in Inyathi.

Asst Insp Ngwenya said Sweswe and his two colleagues were hunting in the area when they spotted a springbok, which jumped into the dam when they started stoning it.

"When the springbok eventually died, Sweswe jumped into the dam intending to pull it out but unfortunately he drowned in the process.

"When his colleagues realised that he had drowned, they fled from the scene," said Asst Insp Ngwenya.

He said the manager of the ranch reported the matter to the police after finding Sweswe's body floating in the dam and a police sub-aqua unit was dispatched to retrieve it.

He said the body was taken to the Bulawayo United Hospitals (UBH) for a post-mortem.

Asst Insp Ngwenya urged members of the public to desist from poaching saying it is illegal and usually ends in tragedy.