Something fishy at Lake Ngami � police

Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday September 18, 2014 14:28

 

The police have observed that most deaths occurring in the lake were due to imbibing and then taking to the waters.

Groggy from alcohol, the fishermen had slipped into the water and been unable to save themselves. 

Sehitwa police have voiced their concern on this issue saying there were high incidents of fishermen at Lake Ngami boating under the influence of alcohol.

Sehitwa Police Station commander Superintendent Zakes Masike revealed to Mmegi in an interview that in 2014 they have recorded three drowning cases involving fishermen at the lake.  He said in 2013, six fishermen perished due to drowning. Masike attributed the high incidents of drowning on the lake to fishermen taking to water under the influence of alcohol.

 He further explained that the lake has rampant strong winds, which capsize boats, adding that fishermen were also in the habit of overloading their boats with fish.

These revelations came after a 28-year-old fisherman perished inthe lake last week while the fisherman’s companion managed to swim to safety.  Masike said the duo that were based at the lake had gone to attend their fishing nets on the lake when strong winds apparently capsized the boat they were using.

He said the man who died apparently could not swim but his partner swam to safety. He said the deceased whose name has not yet been made public was retrieved from the lake.

In a related incident, Masike said they are investigating two fishermen for causing grievous bodily harm to a fellow fisherman following a fight.

He said the incident happened at Matswere fishing camp.

The assaulted fisherman has been admitted at Letsholathebe Hospital in Maun while the other two fishermen are in custody in Sehitwa for further investigations.

Masike said the assaulted fisherman was apparently dumped by his girlfriend and told his colleagues about his intentions to quit fishing and return home as he said he was stressed.

The other two fishermen made fun of him saying he was weak and he retaliated by saying unpleasant words to them, which led to a fight.

He was beaten with a log of wood.