MIDWEEK REPORTER
CHIPINGE-THE RAINY season brings with it mixed fortunes for families and communities, to some it causes loss of loved ones through drowning, crocodile attacks while others rip huge benefits like good harvests and green pastures for domestic animals just to mention a few.
Unfortunately, for the 20year old Harthon Tendi Chimoko’s family from Masimbe Village under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge it brought pain and grief as they lost him in a vicious crocodile attack in the mighty Save River as he tried to cross with colleagues to look for stray cattle.
According to Manicaland Province acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, on 31 January at around 6pm in Middle Sabi along Save River, Harthon Tendi Chimoko, Tinei Majoki (21), Audience Gonhi (21) and Misheck Simango (22) all from the same village left home to look for stray cattle in Masapatsi Village across the giant river.
The quartet crossed the first river channel and reached an island.
As they tried to cross the second channel, when the water was at knee level Harthon disappeared in the river and started yelling for help which Misheck and another friend tried to render help but they were pulled into the water as well by the giant reptile as they tried to rescue their colleague.
Fortunately the two managed to rescue themselves from the river, but without Harthon who had then disappeared into the raging waters.
Misheck is said to have noticed a human head and hand floating on the banks of the river, then the three went to inform Luke Chiwoko (58) who made a report at Chibuwe Police post.
The police in the company of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officers went to the scene and failed to locate the body, but only managed to recover human intestines and kidneys.
Chinyoka warned people from crossing flooded rivers and at places that are not clear as they might be infested with crocodiles.
