28 Aug 2022

Drivers have been advised to be more vigilant while driving as a lot of wild animals cross the roads in search of water and food.

Senior Superintendent Victor Nlebesi said in an interview that drivers should be on the look-out for animals especially in areas infested by wildlife.

The call follows a recent incident in which 16 passengers, including the driver of a mini-bus escaped an aggressive elephant at Xinige settlement along the Seronga/Shakawe road. 

Senior Supt Nlebesi noted that the mini-bus was from Seronga to Shakawe and along the way, the driver spotted a herd of elephants crossing the road from South to North and decided to stop and kept a distance.

The driver, he said revealed that within some minutes, an aggressive elephant with a baby appeared on the road from nowhere and hit the mini-bus with its trunk on the side and pushed it until it fell on the side but fortunately no fatalities were recorded except for the driver who sustained minor injuries from the windowpane particles.

He appealed to drivers using Seronga/Shakawe road to be always alert as animals roamed the area  and  posed danger to people’s lives.

Police in Seronga, he said were also investigating a shocking incident in which a 14-year-old boy survived a gun shot at Ndorotsha settlement in the outskirt of Gunutsoga village in the Okavango district

Senior Supt Nlebesi explained that the victim and the other two boys aged 13 and 17 stole their uncle’s shot gun for security as they were going into the wilderness.

Along the way, he said they were attacked by a hippo and the boy who was holding the gun tried to shoot the aggressive animal, but the bullet missed it and unfortunately hit the 14-year-old on the thigh leaving him with serious injuries.

The boy, he said was recuperating at Gumare primary hospital while investigations continue. 

He also appealed to people who owned guns to keep them safe. ends