A 29 year old Zimbabwean man is reported to have died instantly after the dugout canoe he was using to cross the Thamalakane River capsized on Sunday afternoon. The incident took place near the Maun BDF camp which is located in the banks of the Thamalakane.
Maun Police Station Commander Superintendent Motlhaba Ramaabya said that the deceased was in the company of a fellow Zimbabwean, both of who are believed to be illegal immigrants, when they met their fate.
Fortunately the other man survived death as he was rescued by witnesses who had thronged the scene.
Although it is not yet clear what led to the canoe overturning, Ramaabya said they suspect it might have been a result of heavy winds which rocked the village on Sunday.
“We experienced very bad weather over the past weekend, and so it is highly likely that they might have been overpowered by the heavy winds. I am told also that the two had attended a church service in Maun earlier in the day and were crossing to the other side of the river where they resided. At this point the surviving man is assisting us in tracing the deceased man’s next of kin”, said Ramaabya.
In yet another incident, Ramaabya stated that they have remanded in custody, a 46 year old Shakawe man who is assisting them with investigations in connection with the death of a 72 year old woman of Xhwexa cattle post near Nxaraga settlement. The deceased motionless body was found on the wee hours of Saturday on a path not far from where she stayed by a passerby and was confirmed dead upon arrival at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital.
The station commander said the woman’s family became suspicious on Friday night when she didn’t show up as she had promised to return home the same day. He said the man in custody became a suspect as he was the last person seen with the old woman in Komana the previous day.
