Ranger drowns in Victoria Falls as hippo attacks canoe

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ranger from Victoria Falls drowned on Thursday in Lake Kariba.

A hippo attacked canoe he was in and it capsized.

Mr Madubeko Ngwenya (36) from Monde village on the outskirts of Victoria Falls drowned while his colleague managed to swim to a nearby tree which he held onto until he was rescued.

Mr Ngwenya and his colleague were stationed at Matusadonha National Park, which is on the shores of Lake Kariba.

His body was retrieved in the evening on the same day he drowned, according to his family. His uncle Mr Never Sibanda said the family was still trying to come to terms with Mr Ngwenya's death.

"We were shocked when we heard the news that he had drowned and we got worried when the body couldn't be found initially. We were told they were moving from Camp 1 to Camp 2 to collect foodstuffs and on their way a hippo tipped the boat.

"Madubeko was wearing an overall and as such could not swim while his colleague swam and held onto a tree," said Mr Sibanda.

He said the family was engaging Zimparks so that it could assist in transporting the body to Victoria Falls for burial.

Mr Ngwenya is survived by wife Future Zikhali and three children.