A WOMAN from Khwale village under Chief Gambu in Ward 16, Tsholotsho, is fighting for her life at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after being brutally attacked by a stray lion from Hwange National Park.
Speaking to Southern Eye, ward 16 councillor Isaac Moyo said Violet Sibanda, who is aged around 55 years old, was attacked by a lion on Thursday 700 metres away from her home.
“The lion suddenly appeared and brutally attacked her around her neck area, leaving her throat open. She sustained several injuries on her body. Apparently, she tried fighting the lion after it had tripped her. She strangled it until it ran away,” Moyo said.
“Villagers were alerted after the lion roared. Unfortunately, they could not find it. She was then rushed to the clinic, where an ambulance was called and because of the deep injuries she sustained, she was quickly referred to Mpilo Hospital.”
Moyo said they informed the Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC), who organised game rangers to track the feline, but they could not find it.
Moyo also urged the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to assist the woman by settling her hospital bills since she does not have any relatives nearby.
“Our wish is for the National Parks to financially intervene in Sibanda’s situation. As it is, she was accompanied to Bulawayo by her neighbour because her children are not around,” Moyo said.
Tsholotsho RDC chairperson Rophus Ndlovu said during this time of the year, animals leave national parks in search of water and food and this inevitably results in human contact with these animals.
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“The incidence that took place at ward 16 involving one of our community members getting attacked by a lion is, indeed, a very sad one. As the RDC, we are greatly concerned about the rise in such incidents. Just last week, we had some one attacked by a hippopotamus in ward 21,” Ndlovu said.
“As Tsholotsho RDC, we have a program called Problematic Animal Control. Our rangers respond to such incidents when reports are received from our communities.
“In some cases, such animals are driven back to national parks and in other cases where risks to human life is imminent or harm has been caused to human or death, our rangers then would kill those animals.”
Parks Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed that they received a report about the incidents and their reaction team is already on the ground.
“We are also going to do awareness campaigns, teaching our community the basics on what to do when they encounter wildlife and most importantly to, discourage communities from moving during the night, especially areas where there are animals,” Farawo said.
