Journalist knocked over by zebras

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Friday September 9, 2011 00:00

The victim, Seloko Mmolawa, a Botswana Television (Btv) cameraman, somehow managed to get back on his feet following the incident.  His video camera was, however, seriously damaged.

Speaking to Mmegi on Tuesday from his home where he was resting since the incident, Mmolawa said he had embarked on an assignment to cover the arrival of the zebras when the incident happened.  He explained that he had strategically mounted his camera in such a way that he would capture the zebras as they came out of their delivery trucks.  'My eyes were fixated into the viewfinder and as I captured the zebras jumping off the truck, I did not realise that two of them were heading towards me,' he said.

He said that before he knew it, he was knocked down by one of the zebras, and as he tried to stand up another zebra trampled over him.  'Everything happened very fast.  I was confused and it felt like a dream,' Mmolawa said.  He, however, said he did not suffer any serious injuries, except that he was experiencing minor pains due to the fall.  He said after the incident he went to the hospital where he was assured that there were no fractured bones in his body.  'It was just an accident like any other accident.  The one thing that makes me happy is that I did not sustain any serious injuries or breakage of bones after all,' he said cheerfully.  An eye-witness, Moemedi Matebu said he was standing next to Mmolawa when the incident occurred.  'It was quite shocking,' he said.  'Two of the animals came from the truck and ran towards us.  Sensing danger, I ran for dear life and left the cameraman behind.  The zebra hit him and he fell to the ground.'

He said as the cameraman stood up, but another zebra knocked him down again.  He indicated that by then, he had run away with other journalists for fear of being trampled over by the animals.  When contacted for comment, Tachila Nature Reserve manager, Mothusi Odubile, confirmed the incident.  He said the reason the zebras trampled on the cameraman could have been that they were stressed and uneasy due to the long trip they had endured after the transportation from Orapa game Park.  'It is just an unfortunate incident that happened and we sincerely feel sorry for the gentleman,' said Odubile.