BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A UK-based Zimbabwean woman has donated a commode chair with a supportive armrest to a Binga man who survived a vicious attack by a crocodile after jumping into Mlibizi River while running away from a herd of elephants leading to his both legs and left arm to get amputated.

Windas Sianene Muleya (43) from Chief Saba jumped into the jaws of the giant reptile while running away from a herd of five elephants that was encircling him during a fishing expedition in September last year. 

His legs and arm were first amputated at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo before another amputation on both legs in neighbouring Zambia after doctors there said the initial procedures were botched.

His cousin Tendayi Zulu told VicFallsLive that  the family had incurred a lot of costs while seeking treatment for Sianene, both in Zimbabwe and Zambia, making them fail to purchase a user-friendly chair. 

“The commode chair was recently donated by a lady called Veronica Sibanda who is based in the UK,” Zulu said. 

“She actually sent money and the chair was bought in Bulawayo before being  sent home by bus on the 15th of January 2023. 

“The lady also promised to buy books and meet the school fees bills.” 

Muleya is the father of three minor children, one of whom the mother is deceased. 

In an earlier interview, Muleya said the government was yet to give him any assistance despite some officials showing an interest in his case when his story first hit the headlines.

He said his old-aged mother and brother are the ones who assist him with his routine hygienic check as he often soils himself. 

Muleya narrated for the first time how the September 28 incident that altered his life forever unfolded.

He said he was fishing close to his homestead on the confluence of Mlibizi and Zambezi rivers when he suddenly saw a herd of five elephants charging towards him.

Seeing that there was nowhere to run to since he was on an island and the elephants were charging from the only route out of the area, he decided to jump into the river and the crocodile attacked him and he had to fight it off by gagging it until it let go of him. 

He was immediately taken to Binga District Hospital where upon admission, he was transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo where a decision was made the following morning a decision to amputate his left leg and left arm.

After spending several weeks without healing, his family took to Zambia and the surgeon doctor at Livingstone Hospital informed them that the amputation was not properly done as the legs were not aligned prompting them to redo another surgery. 

After spending 17 days at the institution, Muleya was discharged and had to move in with his mother at her homestead together with his children. 

Initially there was a wheelchair that was donated to him, but he could not push it because of the dust and sand soils in the homestead. 

Zulu said Muleya is still in need of handouts such as the clothes and toiletries for his minor children. 

For assistance, family can be reached on Zulu’s mobile number  +263 77 680 8607.