17 Jan 2021

 A 14-year-old boy is reported to have drowned at Makunda River on Friday.

Charleshill Police Station Commander, Superintendent Lefa Kareng said they received a report about the incident and dispatched a search team to the scene.

Supt Kareng said the search had to be adjourned to the next morning as it was dark.

With the help of BDF scuba divers from Maun, Supt Kareng said the boys body was retrieved on Saturday around 11am. The deceased was reportedly among five children aged between 10 and 16 years who had gone playing along the river.

Supt Kareng noted that the deceased’s home and the river were about 50 metres apart.

It is suspected that he was trapped in the deep area of the river and that the water current pushed others away.

The police chief noted that the rains that started beginning of the month seemed to have been heavier in Namibia since the water current was from there, further explaining that one of the two streams from Namibia merged with Makunda River while the other flood to the old Mamuno Police Station.

Supt Kareng also said although the river was not overflowing, parents must ensure that children played far away from the river to avoid similar misfortunes.

He further stated that the water that ponded Mamuno Border Post last Wednesday had subsided. Ends