TRAGEDY has struck the shores of Itezhi-Tezhi dam in Southern province after a local fisherman fell victim to a vicious attack by a hippopotamus and died.
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54-year-old Peter Chama and Mulenga Kunda aged 39, both residents of the same house in Itezhi-Tezhi compound were fishing on the Itezhi-Tezhi dam in their dugout canoe when the unthinkable happened.
Out of nowhere, a furious hippopotamus bursted from the water, violently ramming their small boat, sending Chama to the land of his ancestors and Kunda at the hospital.
The incident occurred on Saturday at around 07:00 hours.
Southern province police commanding officer, Auxensio Daka revealed that as Chama and Kunda attempted to reel in their net, a massive hippo erupted from the depths of the Dam, enraged and charging directly at them.
Daka stated that the two fishermen threw caution to the wind and abandoned their net, desperately paddling their canoe to escape but the hippo was relentless, gaining ground quickly.
Daka disclosed that Chama had managed to swim to shore despite suffering grievous injuries to his left leg, inflicted by the hippo’s vicious bite.
“Chama was rushed to the nearest hospital and is currently receiving treatment but his fishing companion, Kunda, was not so fortunate,” he said.
“Despite bravely swimming away from the aggressive animal, the hippo relentlessly pursued Kunda, overpowering and delivering a fatal series of bites to his head and left pelvis.”
He added that Kunda’s body was recovered from the dam by officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.
“The deceased’s body was since deposited in the hospital mortuary, awaiting the arrival of his relatives, as he was staying with his friend and had no immediate family in the area,” he added.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba June 30, 2025
