16 Mar 2022

Communities residing adjacent to wildlife management areas have been urged to be extra cautious at all times to reduce chances of animals’ attacks.

The call was made by Seronga police station commander, Superintendent Peter Masole in an interview following an unfortunate incident in which a 53 year-old man was attacked and killed by a male elephant over the weekend at Mbiroba area in the outskirts of Seronga village in the Okavango area.

The deceased, he said met his death while maintaining his ploughing field to protect his crops from animals.

He said the deceased was rushed to Shakawe primary hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. Supt Masole stated that investigations were ongoing and appealed to the community to be vigilant while at their ploughing fields.

The incident, he said was the first to be registered in his policing area since the beginning of the year.

Last year, he said they registered one incident in August and attributed it to low population of wildlife in the area as most animals had relocated to other areas in search of water.

Supt Masole said conflict between humans and animals had been steady adding that they were shocked by the incident.

Meanwhile in Sehithwa police are investigating two separate incidents involving a 43 year old man who raped a 25 year old woman and assaulted a middle aged male teacher at an entertainment outlet in Toteng village.

Sehithwa station commander, Supt Nshaki Mabophiwa revealed that the first victim who resided at Tsokung cattle posts near  Toteng village left her partner and went for an outing in company of friends and upon arrival, she met the suspect who dragged her to the nearby bush and raped her and later returned to the bar.

The suspect, he said also had a misunderstanding with the said teacher whom he pushed and assaulted adding that the teacher fell on the ground and sustained head injuries.

Supt Mabophiwa said the victim was recuperating at Princess Marina hospital while the suspect was helping police with investigations. ENDS