An 11-year-old boy, Innocent Matiti, is missing after reportedly drowning in the Shire River in Nsanje District.

Nsanje police spokesperson Agnes Zalakoma, has confirmed the development and said the incident occurred on Friday when Innocent attempted to cross the river near Kalupsa Village to graze cattle in neighboring Mozambique.

Zalakoma explained that while returning from the grazing fields with his friends, Innocent grabbed onto a cow’s tail while crossing the river, but tragically, he was swept away by the current and disappeared into the water.

Efforts to search for the boy are currently underway, led by locals from Phokera, the area where the accident took place. However, there are growing fears that he may have drowned.

Innocent Matiti hails from Malata Village, under the jurisdiction of Traditional Authority Makhuwira in Chikwawa District. The community is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the search, though hopes of finding him alive are diminishing.