31 Aug 2017

Shakawe Police Station Commander, Superintendent Goitsemodimo Molapisi has expressed concern about the number of people who drown in the Okavango River.

Supt Molapisi said people continued to die in the river despite efforts by authorities to spread the message about preventative measures.

In an interview, he said the police were investigating an incident in which a young man aged between 20 and 25 drowned in the Okavango River on August 28.

Supt Molapisi said the young man was spotted by a passersby floating in the river around 9am behind the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) camp and alerted the police.

He said the deceased was rushed to Shakawe Clinic where he was certified dead on arrival.

He said they did not suspect any foul play, adding that the body was at Gumare Primary Hospital awaiting post-mortem while investigations were ongoing.

Supt Molapisi said recently a 73-year-old fisherman of Boyeyi ward in Nxamasere, who was staying alone at the cattle post, also drowned in the same river.

He said such incidents were worrying because they impacted negatively on community development.

Furthermore, he said although people were dependent on the river for different means of survival, the water was deep and flowed at a high speed.

He said people using the river should be careful, adding that it was infested with snakes, hippos and crocodiles. ENDS