OLIVER SAMBOKO writes
A FISHERMAN in his late 40s has escaped death from the jaws of a hippo as he and friends were fishing in the lower Zambezi River in Siavonga District in Southern Province.
Grant Mazambani had to be rushed to Siavonga District Hospital for emergency treatment after he suffered serious injuries on his back, chest and near his private parts.
A check by the Sun at the hospital found the victim being attended to by a team of doctors.
A family member who did not want to be identified because he was not the spokesperson narrated that Mr Mazambani was in the company of two other fishermen when they were attacked by the hippo.
He said it was only by the grace of God and the bravery of his friends that Mr Mazambani survived the attack.
Had they not intervene the beast would have cut the victim into half.
Villagers in the lower Zambezi River have appealed to Government to crop some of the hippos in the area to reduce animal-human conflicts.
The villagers said they were living in fear because of the high number of attacks from hippos and crocodiles.
In another development, a male nurse at Siamatika Health Post in Siavonga died in a road accident while going for work.
Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) district official Agrippa Mudenda identified the nurse as George Simoonda, a nurse at Siamatika Health Post.
Mr Mudenda said Mr Simoonda was killed on the Siavonga highway after he lost control of the motorbike he was riding.
