Tinotenda Hove – Tragedy struck at Gatche Gatche fishing camp in Kariba last Friday when a hippopotamus attacked and overturned a boat, leaving two fishermen missing and feared drowned.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson for Mashonaland West, Inspector Ian Kohwera, confirmed the incident, stating that the men were flung into the water during the attack and were unable to swim to safety.

“On 25 April 2025 at around 1530 hours, two fishermen drowned at Gatche Gatche fishing camp, Kariba, after their boat was capsized by a hippopotamus,” said Inspector Kohwera. “They failed to make it to shore, and their bodies have not yet been recovered.”

Authorities said the incident was reported to ZRP Kariba by officials from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) stationed at the nearby Charara site.

The police Sub Aqua Unit has since been deployed to the scene and is continuing search operations to retrieve the missing bodies.