Zambia: A 27-year-old man from Mufumbwe’s Kashima East drowned in a local swamp when he was accompanying his 20-year-old nephew to bird hunting. The victim has been identified as Pezo Samuneti, of Ndemba Village, Jivundu Turn-off Area.
The nephew who was the sole eyewitness of the ordeal has been identified as Henson Ilunga. The officials believe that the incident happened at approximately 16:00 hours on 21st February 2024.
North Western Police Commanding Officer, Dennis Moola confirmed the development to the media in a formal statement. The investigation into the incident has already started, revealing that the victim and his nephew were trying to cross the swamp by swimming.
“The swamp was flooded at the time of the incident, they were swimming and setting traps on the flooded swamp. The nephew was swimming ahead while the victim was following when he could not swim and started drowning. The nephew tried to save the deceased but failed,” he explained.
The Commanding Officer added that officers from Mufumbwe Police and the Mufumbwe District Commissioner visited the scene. The investigations have started, meanwhile, the body has not yet been found while the search continues.
Ilunga spoke about the incident to the media, sharing that he did not even reach the other side of the swamp before hearing his uncle calling for help.
“We never even crossed the swamp when I heard my uncle shouting for help. When I tried to rescue him, I also began to drown and that was when I started calling for help. Unfortunately, no one came in time and my uncle drowned completely; until now the body has not been found,” Ilunga explained.
Meanwhile, Mufumbwe District Commissioner, Elijah Munyompe expressed his disappointment over the incident which resulted in the loss of life. He has described the incident as a sad development while promising government support to retrieve the body.
“I came here with officers after receiving bad news from the officer in charge this morning.” The District Commissioner was informed that a young man had drowned at Jivundu Turn Off in Kashima East.
“As a government we shall do everything possible to ensure that the body is retrieved. Otherwise, it is a sad development to lose such a young soul with the potential to do great things,” he said.
Munyompe further urged people to refrain from such places, especially when they do not have serious businesses with such water.