Bodies Of Three Suspected Poachers Recovered From Lake Mutirikwi

The decomposing bodies of three suspected poachers have been recovered from Lake Mutirikwi, several days after their homemade canoe capsized during a spell of strong winds.

The deceased have been identified as Rangarirai Kovo of the Chikwanda communal lands, Robert Ndava of the Mushandike resettlement area, and Norman Rangarirai of Stop Over.

Their remains were discovered by a search party comprised of relatives, who had continued to scour the lake after initial search efforts proved unsuccessful.

Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, told The Herald that the trio drowned when their vessel was overwhelmed by turbulent weather.

Despite an extensive search operation, which included the deployment of the police sub-aqua unit, the bodies remained missing for several days until they were eventually spotted by the family members.

“Two bodies were found floating in the dam, while the third body was found close to the shore by relatives who constituted a search party. All the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition,” said Inspector Dhewa.

Inspector Dhewa took the opportunity to correct earlier reports, which had erroneously identified the three men as fishmongers rather than suspected poachers.

“Besides a dead dog that was also found in the canoe, the deceased had night‑vision search lights, which suggests they were likely game poachers targeting Kyle Recreational Park,” he said.

A poacher is someone who harvests fish illegally, while a fishmonger is a legitimate trader or seller of fish.