Two women and two men have died after a canoe they were sailing in was hit by a hippopotamus and capsized in Shire River in Chikwawa.
Chikwawa Police Station deputy spokesperson Sergeant Chancy Mfune-Zare identified the victims as Enert Tesifolo, 38, of Mwalija Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kasisi, Elina Nsona, 21, of Chang’anima Village, T/A Makhwira, Alick Kadyamba, 47, of Mchacha Village, T/A Ngabu and Peter Mtengo, 51, from Namalindi Village, T/A Katunga in Chikwawa.
She said the accident happened on Saturday as 12 people were crossing the river on the way back from their gardens.
“The hippopotamus suddenly showed up and hit the canoe, forcing it to capsize. People at the scene managed to rescue eight people while the other four drowned in the process,” said Mfune-Zare.
Post-mortem conducted at Chikwawa District Hospital confirmed that the four died due to suffocation.
In an interview yesterday, National Parks and Wildlife director Brighton Kumchedwa said they encourage operators on the river to use engine boats which scare away animals such as crocodiles and hippos.
This is not the first time people have drowned while attempting to cross the Shire Rivers on boats or canoes in the district. Last year, four people also drowned after two boats capsized on the Shire in Chikwawa and Nsanje.
In April this year, 11 people died when a boat they boarded capsized on Lake Malawi in Likoma District.
