A 41-year-old woman, identified as Kandambo Muronga, lost her life after being attacked by a hippopotamus at Mabushe village in the Mashare Constituency, Kavango East Region, over the weekend.
According to the report, the tragic incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Kandambo, accompanied by her twin sister and other villagers, went to the river to fetch water. After collecting water, they decided to bathe when a hippopotamus suddenly emerged and attacked.
Her twin sister, Muku Muronga, recounted the ordeal, saying the animal bit Kandambo on the leg, leaving her severely injured and bleeding. “She cried for help, but it was difficult to move her from the water to get help,” Muku said.
Attempts to secure an ambulance were unsuccessful due to unavailability. “Fortunately, the councillor arrived and assisted in transporting her to the clinic, but she succumbed to excessive bleeding shortly after arrival,” Muku explained.
The deceased’s body was later taken to Nyangana Hospital for post-mortem examination. Kandambo is survived by five children, aged between four and twenty-three.
Expressing frustration, Muku criticised the lack of emergency response and wildlife control in the region. “Our communities continue to live in danger from wild animals, yet there is no proper intervention. Authorities need to prioritise the safety of people living near rivers,” she said.
Community members have since appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to strengthen safety and monitoring measures in areas affected by human-wildlife conflict.
