The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy from Chezhou village in Hwange district was recently mauled to death at a neighbour’s field by a lion while on his way to school. Matabeleland North acting provincial police spokeperson Sergeant Eglon Nkala confirmed the death of young Elton, following an attack by a lion that had strayed from the Hwange National Park into the neighbouring villages.
“The child was ambushed by the lion at the edge of a neighbour’s field. It sprang and grabbed him by the head and then pulled him into the bush.
“Passersby heard screams and dashed to the scene only to retreat after seeing spoors of the lion. They rushed to inform the village head who later made a report to the police,” Sergeant Nkala said.
He said Dete police officers attended to the scene in the company of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers who killed the lion, which was still guarding the body of the young boy.
The boy was a Grade Two pupil at Chezhou Primary School.
Hwange Rural District Council chairperson, Ms Sipiwe Mapfuwa said the loss of life could have been avoided if the Lion Research did not let the lion roam villages.
“It’s so saddening to lose a life from a wild animal but this could have been avoided if only the Lion Research played its role properly. They have been letting this old lion loiter around villages and killing livestock in Mabale and Lupote areas.
“It should have long been put down under the Problem Animal Control programme. They are actually aware of its movement because it has a collar to detect its movement,” Ms Mapfuwa said.
She said there was no way wild animals could co-exist with humans and as such appropriate measures should be taken to guard against calamities.
“People should always take note that a wild animal will always be one, there is no way one can successfully tame it into a pet,” said a fuming Ms Mapfuwa.
