Croc attack: Villagers blame lack of borehole for girl’s death
Villagers have blamed the death of a seven-year-old girl who was killed by a crocodile while fetching water in the Kavango River on an incomplete borehole.
They firmly believe that had the borehole been completed as scheduled, the villagers would not have had to risk their lives by getting water from the river.
The tragic incident happened at Hoha Village last Thursday, some 130 kilometres east of Rundu.
Tragedy unfolds
The life of Nangura Rosvitha Mukerenge was cut short after a crocodile attacked her on the banks of the river when she escorted her aunt, Anastasia Muhembo, to collect water.
Describing the sequence of events, Muhembo said it was around 15:00 when she decided to go to the river, which is about 700 metres from their homestead.
"The water at our tap was not running, and then I decided to go and get water at the river together with [Mukerenge] and my daughter," she said.
"I went with three containers, and as I was filling them up, I just heard a loud noise and a splash. When I turned around, I saw a large crocodile drawing my niece into the water. I then told my daughter to quickly run home and inform the people of what happened as I was observing the crocodile," Muhembo said.
Muhembo explained that she couldn't attempt to rescue her niece because the crocodile was large and moving rapidly.
The victim's body was finally discovered on Saturday.
Dangerous surroundings
The unfinished borehole in Hoha is one of three that were drilled in his constituency last year but have not yet been installed. This was confirmed by constituency councillor, Laurentius Mukoya, yesterday.
According to the deceased child's family members, there are many crocodiles in their area that also attack livestock, including goats.
During Namibian Sun's visit to the victim's homestead this weekend, villagers pointed out a borehole that was drilled last year but has not yet been installed.
Moreover, during the visit, this reporter observed approximately six crocodiles basking in the sun on the other side of the Kavango River.
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They firmly believe that had the borehole been completed as scheduled, the villagers would not have had to risk their lives by getting water from the river.
The tragic incident happened at Hoha Village last Thursday, some 130 kilometres east of Rundu.
Tragedy unfolds
The life of Nangura Rosvitha Mukerenge was cut short after a crocodile attacked her on the banks of the river when she escorted her aunt, Anastasia Muhembo, to collect water.
Describing the sequence of events, Muhembo said it was around 15:00 when she decided to go to the river, which is about 700 metres from their homestead.
"The water at our tap was not running, and then I decided to go and get water at the river together with [Mukerenge] and my daughter," she said.
"I went with three containers, and as I was filling them up, I just heard a loud noise and a splash. When I turned around, I saw a large crocodile drawing my niece into the water. I then told my daughter to quickly run home and inform the people of what happened as I was observing the crocodile," Muhembo said.
Muhembo explained that she couldn't attempt to rescue her niece because the crocodile was large and moving rapidly.
The victim's body was finally discovered on Saturday.
Dangerous surroundings
The unfinished borehole in Hoha is one of three that were drilled in his constituency last year but have not yet been installed. This was confirmed by constituency councillor, Laurentius Mukoya, yesterday.
According to the deceased child's family members, there are many crocodiles in their area that also attack livestock, including goats.
During Namibian Sun's visit to the victim's homestead this weekend, villagers pointed out a borehole that was drilled last year but has not yet been installed.
Moreover, during the visit, this reporter observed approximately six crocodiles basking in the sun on the other side of the Kavango River.
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