Bulawayo woman survives crocodile attack by punching its nose

Published

3 years ago

February 16, 2023

BY EZRA TSHISA SIBANDA

A 53-year-old Bulawayo woman says she escaped from the jaws of a crocodile in Kana River, Matabeleland North, by punching its nose while appealing for divine intervention.

Tholiwe Moyo, who was in company of her sister and two other villagers, were attempting to cross the flooded river recently when she was bitten by the crocodile, which tried to drown her.

The mother of five children fought the reptile off after recalling some childhood advice from village elders that one has to hit it on the nose to scare it. That saved her life.

Moyo, currently in a stable condition at Mpilo General Hospital in Bulawayo is nursing serious injuries on her hands, legs and other parts of the body.

“The crocodile attacked me when I was crossing the river with some villagers, who included my 72-year-old sister,” she said.

At first we all thought that someone was throwing stones at us but realized within a minute or so that something had a tight grip on my body.

“ I then realized that it was a crocodile trying to pull me to the deepest part of that section of the river. I screamed for divine intervention.

“While the crocodile was trying to drag me, I recalled what elders related to us when I was growing up.

“We were told that if you punch the crocodile on its nose, it will let you go. I did exactly that while it tried to drown me. I punched it several times on its nose.”

She says the crocodile tried to kill her. “It broke my arm, bit my legs and buttocks and other parts of my body.

“I was also determined to live. So, I punched it hard while screaming for help. It finally let me off.

“ I then crawled towards the banks of the river and my sister and others pulled me to safety.

“By that time, they were carrying sticks and other objects they could lay their hands on in order to push it off.”

The crocodile was not done yet as it attacked, killed and ate the family’s dog, which was trying to swim to safety too.

“It’s sad that our dog is gone but I’m happy that I survived.”

Moyo is in serious pain. “The crocodile wanted to bite my hand off. The left hand is not functioning well as of now.

“My left leg is also seriously injured and the right leg up to my buttocks it’s in bad shape.

“I’m happy that my councillors, Member of Parliament, women’s groups and others have visited me here to show their sympathy and support. I appreciate it a lot. They gave me a lot of fruits.”

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing heavy rains and conservation groups are warning that the rains and flooded rivers have resulted in crocodiles turning up in places where they are least expected.

Late last year, Majaha Ndlovu of Silobela was attacked and eaten by a crocodile while he was fishing with his son, Siphatho Ndlovu.

Siphatho will never forget this day. “We were fishing along Gwelu River when my father dropped his hat and tried to retrieve it from the river.

“All of a sudden a crocodile attacked him and drowned him. The only thing I saw thereafter were pools of blood on the water surface,

“That was the last time I saw my father alive. He was attacked and eaten by that reptile.

“I tried to cry for help while it was attacking him but there was nobody in sight to assist him.

“That pains me a lot and it haunts me. I remember him screaming for help but I could not save him. He died a very painful death.”

National Parks and Wildlife Management authorities say crocodiles are killing people more than any animal, including elephants. – VOA

Two artisanal miners die in Umguza mine shaft collapse

Published

4 days ago

December 25, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Two artisanal miners have died following the collapse of a flooded mine shaft at Cement Side in Umguza District, ZBC has reported.

The incident occurred early Tuesday morning after heavy water ingress caused the shaft to give way, trapping the two men underground.

When rescue teams arrived at the scene, officers from the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services Department, assisted by local volunteers, were leading recovery efforts.

A survivor of the incident, Khulumani Nkomo, described the terrifying moments leading up to the collapse.

“We heard a loud cracking sound as we reached the ground, then water started rushing in. The two were behind us, and the shaft just closed, trapping the other one in the tunnel,” he said.

Nkomo added that attempts to rescue the trapped miners proved futile.

“We tried to dig with our hands and tools, but the water kept coming. By the time help arrived, it was already too late.”

A brother of one of the deceased miners said the family is struggling to cope with the loss, revealing that the victim was only 19 years old.

Foot and mouth disease outbreak in Mat North

Published

3 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NIZBERT MOYO

The provincial Veterinary Department has urged farmers to comply with livestock movement regulations following an outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in some parts of Matabeleland North.

Acting provincial veterinarian Gwinyai Zhandire confirmed the outbreak to Southern Eye, saying the government has instituted movement controls, vaccination and active surveillance in the affected areas.

“There are some dip tanks affected in the Nyamandlovu area,” Zhandire said.

“The government has instituted movement controls and vaccination, and we are conducting surveillance.

“Farmers are encouraged to observe and comply with livestock movement regulations to prevent further spread.”

He highlighted that the rainy season increases the risk of other livestock diseases.

With tick populations on the rise, farmers should be vigilant against tick-borne illnesses such as Anaplasmosis (Gall Sickness), Theileriosis (January Disease), Ehrlichiosis (Heartwater) and Babesiosis (Redwater).

“Weekly dipping is encouraged to prevent transmission between animals,” Zhandire said.

He emphasised the importance of routine vaccination against other seasonal threats, including anthrax and lumpy skin diseases.

The outbreak has also affected farmers in the Umguza area, who have similarly been directed to adhere to animal movement restrictions.

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep and goats.

The disease is characterised by fever and the development of painful sores or blisters in the mouth and on the feet, often leading to severe lameness and a drop in productivity.

The virus spreads easily through direct contact between animals, as well as via contaminated equipment, vehicles and feed.

The disease can result in significant economic losses in the livestock industry due to trade restrictions and animal health costs.
Source: Southern Eye

In the community

Brother-in-law jailed for repeated rape of mentally incompetent 16-year-old

Published

3 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced a 41‑year‑old man to 20 years’ imprisonment for the repeated rape of his 16‑year‑old sister‑in‑law, a mentally incompetent juvenile.

The court heard that the victim was staying at the offender’s homestead in Lupane. Between November 2024 and May this year, the offender exploited her mental incapacity and his position of trust to rape her on multiple occasions.

In the first incident, the offender’s sister pushed the victim into a bedroom where the offender was waiting, locked the door, removed the victim’s clothes and raped her. He threatened the victim and ordered her to remain silent when she tried to cry out for help.

The abuse continued on various occasions. In May, a community member discovered the abuse and reported it to the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Lupane.

Medical and psychiatric examinations confirmed the victim’s mental status and the ordeal. The offender and his sister assaulted the victim with a sjambok and a stick and threatened her not to disclose the matter.