A Hippo has attacked and killed a 48-year-old man identified as Kamayoyo Kamayoyo of Libako Village in an area called Kalongola in Sioma District in Western Province.
This was after he had gone to check on his fish nets in the Zambezi River.
This incident occurred around 8 hours while Mr. Kamayoyo now deceased was in a dugout canoe inspecting his fish nets when a Hippo hit it underneath and went for him, cutting his left leg before killing him on the spot.
Relatives to the deceased have since called on the government through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to seriously ensure that the lives of people that have been living near the Zambezi for many years are protected against the increasing population of Hippos and Crocodiles.
And some community members have accused the Department of National Parks of being negligent when a life is lost in such a manner.
They say the department is only good at taking action when it’s wild animals that have been killed by the people and not the other way round.
Meanwhile, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Public Relations officer Sakabilo Kalembwe has confirmed the incident to Diamond News.
He says Officers from the Department of National Parks are already on the ground to ensure that the Hippo is chased away from the area.
Mr. Kalembwe has described the situation as strange stating that Hippos are not found in lagoons where people fish from but instead in the main river.
By Marcus Brian Sakubita