Two miraculously escape raging waters

Everyone at the accident scene agreed that Tsengeni Mutele and Mathintha Munyai of Bennde Mutale were two of the luckiest people on earth. They miraculously survived after the tractor on which they were travelling was swept away by the overflowing Nwanedi River near Madimbo village at the weekend.

Scores of curious community members stood on the riverbank while local farmers were trying in vain to pull the tractor from the water.

Mutele, who was driving the tractor, said they were on their way to the farm. “We travel across this bridge every day and we never thought anything bad could happen. When we arrived at about 18:00, we saw that there was water flowing across the bridge and we thought we could cross, although it was drizzling.”

Mutele said he drove the tractor across the bridge and he was surprised when the strong current of water started to sweep the tractor away. “We could feel that the tractor was no longer in balance and I tried to control it, but the water was too strong. It was clear that the tractor was going to roll before the heavy waters would throw us away. Fortunately there were some tree branches that trapped us, and we were able to swim out of the water.”

Still in shock, Munyai said that he still could’t believe what had happened, “but I thank the Lord for the fact that I am still alive. We sometimes cross over this bridge even during rainy days, but what happened today is a mystery. Despite all this, we have also learnt the hard way that it is dangerous to cross a bridge if the water is overflowing. We are also happy that neither of us was injured during the accident.”

Date:21 February 2014

By: News Correspondent

Correspondent journalists from all over the region supply us with news and sport articles. 

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