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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A MAN from Masvingo was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing aboard a home-made canoe in Lake Kyle, police confirmed yesterday.

Langton Chikwaya, 53, of Rukovo Village under Chief Chikwanda, was aboard a home-made canoe when a crocodile appeared alongside the boat and capsized it.

Fellow fishermen told the police they saw the crocodile dragging Chikwaya into the deepest part of the lake.

Authorities at the lake tracked down the crocodile and shot it dead but they could not retrieve Chikwaya’s body.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the incident occurred on Sunday at around 11 AM.

“I can confirm receiving a report of a man from Chief Chikwanda area who was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing in Lake Kyle. A search party was dispatched to look for the body but it could not be found. We have summoned our sub-aqua unit from Buchwa to come and search for the body,” he said.

Asst Insp Dehwa said two other fishermen, Jacob Guzhumure, 53, and Jaison Mutema, 33, of Gomba Village under Chief Murinye were fishing some distance away from Chikwaya.

He said Guzhumure and Mutema saw a crocodile flipping Chikwaya’s canoe and dragging him into the water. “Guzhumure and Mutema screamed for help while throwing stones at the crocodile but it dragged Chikwaya deeper. The two then reported the matter to the authorities who tracked the crocodile down and managed to shoot it dead,” he said.

Crocodile attacks are on the increase in Masvingo province.

Last week a fisherman from Triangle was attacked and killed while three other people, two from Mberengwa’s Chief Nyamhondo area and a Chivi woman, were left seriously injured.