A NINE-year-old girl from Matobo, Matabeleland South province, was killed by a crocodile at Hovi River while she was washing her lunch box last week.

Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident which happened on Monday. She identified the girl as Shalom Moyo and advised members of the community to desist from sending children to fetch water especially at rivers where there are crocodiles. Shalom’s parents Mr Gift Moyo and Happiness Ndlovu said their daughter was the first born in a family of three. The Moyo family, who are from How Mine, had visited their relatives in Matobo when the incident happened.

“We rushed and got to the scene immediately after a little girl who witnessed the incident shouted for help after seeing Shalom being attacked by the crocodile. When we got to the river her bloodied body was floating in the water,” said Mr Moyo.

Ward 17 Councillor Max Majahana said a few years ago another child was attacked by a crocodile at the same river.

“Rangers from Matopos National Park arrived a few hours after the incident to hunt and shoot the creature but unfortunately it vanished into the muddy water as the river was flooding,” said Clr Majahana.- The Sunday News