Fisher’s death keeps Vwaza pupils out of school
Nearly 50 pupils from Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve have stopped going to school due to death threats after the death of a 17-year-old fisher who drowned in Lake Kazuni last month.
Since November 28 this year, the situation has been tense after a day-long search mounted by parks and wildlife assistants led to the discovery of the body of Wallace Msowoya from Tukwayo Jere Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mpherembe in Mzimba in the country’s smallest lake which is circled by the game reserve in Rumphi West.
So charged is the mood that the game rangers on Monday had to fire two M16 bullets to the ground to clear the way for a tractor heading for Thunduwike to deliver wire for a special fence which safeguards elephants from straying from the tourist-attraction into surrounding communities, our source said.
Authorities in Parks and Wildlife Department say the deceased was among nearly 40 illegal fisher-folk confronted by game rangers on November 26 around 7pm and his body was found three days later after a lengthy search in response to community-led inquiries about his whereabouts.
Today, children of the protected area’s workforce have entered a third week without going to Kazuni Primary School, about five kilometres from the park, where they have been receiving death threats.
In an interview, regional parks and wildlife officer (North) George Nxumayo said they have stopped their children from going to school after the villagers said their hearts will only rest if they “avenge the fisherman’s death accordingly”.
At stake is the learners’ right to education as the tense situation compelled them to miss end-of-term examinations last week, he explained.
Rumphi Police Station officer-in-charge Glinton Mitayi confirmed vengeance was the widespread mood in the villages surrounding the game reserve.
“Talks are underway to calm the situation,” said Mitayi. “Having met traditional leaders two weeks ago, I travelled to Vwaza Game Reserve on Tuesday to meet its staff so that I can hear their side.”
