Ranger shot as hunt goes awry
Thursday, 07 March 2013 00:00
Herald Reporter
A senior official in the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority was
reportedly shot on Tuesday evening while in the process of baiting lions
that had killed two people in Mahombekombe, Kariba, earlier on the same day.
The ranger, who was not identified, was shot on the thigh and foot when a
lion attacked rangers who were tracking the animals.
National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline
Washaya-Moyo confirmed the incident.
“Yesterday in the evening, a senior ranger was shot by a stray bullet on the
thigh and the foot. He was immediately rushed to Kariba Hospital where he
was admitted.
“Currently he is in a stable condition and circumstances are that teams were
dispatched and had identified two lions which they suspected to be the ones
which killed people recently. While they were baiting them, a third lion
emerged from nowhere before it advanced towards the senior ranger.
“In the process of shooting the lion to save the senior ranger, he was
accidentally shot by the stray bullet in the foot. We cannot divulge the
name of the ranger before his relatives have been informed,” she said.
The lions attacked and killed a Kariba woman.
Reports have indicated that the national parks authorities have gone on a
massive campaign warning residents to be wary of the lions.
The two people were only identified as Musinjeni while the woman was
identified as Sharon Mahwere.
Mahwere’s body was found on the scene after a man she was with went on to
report to the police.
The police details and wildlife rangers tracked the lions and discovered an
arm belonging to a man with investigations pointing to the felines having
made a kill the previous night.
Sources say that could have been the reason why the lions did not completely
eat the woman.
The lions reportedly killed Jazel Meki Musinjeni (77) on Monday after he
left home for Big Two night club.
A passerby found Musinjeni’s remains including an arm and small intestines.
Musinjeni’s son Tichaona was called and positively identified his father’s
clothes including a cap, pair of trousers and shirt.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara
confirmed the incident adding that the lions had not yet been captured.
“Two people have died so far after being attacked by lions in Kariba. We
would like to urge people to be on the lookout because we have very
dangerous animals on the loose,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mahwere (43) who had hooked up with Daniel Muzarabani and went
into a bush near Mahombekombe Primary School for a fling was attacked by the
lions.
Muzarabani fled leaving behind Mahwere who was killed by the lions.
Kariba residents yesterday said they were now afraid to walk just before
dusk as the attacks were carried out around that time.
The lions are believed to be moving in a pride of five.