07 May 2017

A middle aged man lost his life after drowning in the Tlhamalakane River near Sexaxa ward in Maun on May 6 after his canoe was hit by a hippopotamus and capsized.

According to Inspector Percy Molefe of Maun Police Station, they received a call around 7am informing them that two people drowned in the river while attempting to cross to the other side using a dugout fiber canoe.

He said Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Botswana Police Services scuba divers were dispatched to the scene.

He said they found one of the men already rescued, and that they searched and fished the remaining man from the river.

The deceased was rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital where he was certified dead, said Inspector Molefhe.

One of the men who survived the accident, Mr Kebahilwe Khwandane said he was given a ride by the deceased round 6am to his cattle post which was across the river.

The deceased, according to Mr Khwandane, was employed by Dolled Security Services contracted by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to guard its assets and was on his way to his post across the river.

On their way and in the middle of the river, he said they saw bubbles less than a metre towards their direction and before they could comprehend the source of the bubbles they were thrown in the air and their boat capsized.

Mr Khwandane said they both tried to swim but ran out of energy.

“I managed to cling to the sinking canoe and screamed for help,” he said, adding that lady luck smiled on him as a man who was not far came to his rescue and loaded him in his canoe.

My companion was not lucky as my rescuer arrived when he had already drowned, stated Mr Khwandane.

Meanwhile the hero who managed to rescue Mr Khwandane said he heard people screaming for help and upon inspection he saw a man clinging to the sinking canoe.

“I directed my canoe to his direction and immediately rescued him,” he said.

Mr Goitseone Monyama further said the man told him that his friend had already drowned and that they did not waste time to alert the police who responded swiftly.

Dolled Security Services administration manager, Mr Lekuka Matshediso confirmed that the deceased was their employee and was crossing to his post on the other side of the river.

He said the deceased was using a WUC canoe to cross the river.

“We will meet with WUC and discuss the issue to make sure that it does not happen again,” he said.

Area councillor, Mr Bathoni Poloko expressed the need to build a bridge that could assist people to access their fields and cattle across the river.

He said most residents had livestock on the other side of Thamalakane River and needed to cross the river on a daily basis.

He said the community tried to construct a bridge, but failed because of lack of resources. ENDS