Does anyone know where I can find a good article on these lions? Google efforts bring up sketchy information. Incidentally, Kanyemba is a police post at the very northeast point of Zimbabwe.

Shoot Martin Pieters or Ganyana a pm... if anyone would be aware of them these guys might.

Kanyemba is also a place in Lower Zambezi?

Villagers seek refuge at school after lion attacks

January 28th, 2010 by HYardley Posted in English, Zimbabwe
By Caroline Gwature

About 300 people have fled from their homes in Kanyemba area in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland central province after lions killed four villagers.

Mbire district authorities reported that the affected families sought refuge at the nearby Chapoto Primary School in Kanyemba, while others erected makeshift shelters. But the school term is in progress and so accommodating the families at the school will disrupt learning activities. An urgent solution is needed.

It is difficult to assess exact needs, but humanitarian partners are mobilising resources based on the estimated number of households affected. Urgent needs include food, shelter, water, and sanitation facilities.


The local chief, Chief Chapoto, this week confirmed the death of four men from his area. “Kelvin Matema, Jameson Mission, Obvious Kasauti and a Murarakwa C were all eaten by the lions in January,” he said. “Several people from my village have fled and have been staying at the school since last week.”

He said a headcount of people camping at Chapoto School had not been done, but was sure there were more than 300. “We know there were 125 households affected. We could not get the population of the less affected three villages because the affected people were not present when we arrived. However, the population of the two most affected villages is 420. The local councillor estimated the affected population of the other three villages to be around 138. This will bring the total to about 558 people currently camped at Chapoto Primary School,” said Chief Chapoto.

The affected people are sleeping in the school’s classrooms, which are being used by pupils during the day.

“The school has enough toilets to cater for pupils alone and is failing to cope with the increased number of people camped at the school,” Chief Chapoto said.

“The situation is worsened by the fact that during the night people are afraid of lions to go to the toilets, hence they end up squatting near the classroom walls resulting in a high risk of a cholera outbreak.

“The teachers are not happy with this arrangement and have expressed this concern to me. They are afraid this could result in the temporary closure of the school.”

The Chief is discouraging people to move their livestock because he fears that a prolonged stay of communities at the school would result in outbreaks such as cholera in the whole of Chapoto Ward.

“I’m also not in favour of providing tents to the people, as this will encourage them to stay longer at the school,” he said.

The affected people are relying on the school’s borehole, which is failing to meet the high demand for water.

“The majority of the people are now fetching water from unprotected sources,” said the Chief.

Buckets, jerry cans and Aquatabs have been distributed to ease the situation.

Lack of sanitary facilities and mosquito nets have been cited as other problems affecting the group.

“Our worry at present is that even if villagers return home, the fear will still live with them for a long time to come, and some will find it difficult to use the toilet at night, as they are a distance away from the sleeping areas,” Chief Chapoto said.

Five lions were identified by officers from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority as the group wreaking havoc among the communities. Four of the lions were shot last Friday. The fifth was shot and wounded, but managed to escape, and is still on the loose. It is anticipated that once this lion has been killed, it will be safe for villagers to return to their homes.

Kanyemba straddles Dande and Chewore safari areas and is prone to invasions by wild animals.

It is still not clear how many children have been affected by the displacement, but the fact that affected families are camped at the primary school means that learning activities have been disrupted. Save the Children Norway is assessing the needs of children to determine the assistance required.



Oxfam GB, through its partner, the Lower Guruve Development Association (LGDA), left for Kanyemba area in Mbire on Friday to conduct an assessment and deliver 10 pre-fabricated temporary latrines and 30 hygiene non-food item kits.

Other partners, which include IOM and World Food Programme, have provided various materials to the affected people.

The area is not easily accessible and communication is almost non-existent, making it impossible to ascertain the prevailing situation on the ground.

Apart from the four people killed, the lions also killed four cows and some wild animals.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/southernafrica/?p=385

Link to the article

Reading J,Taylor's "Maneaters and Marauders" at the moment. It seems this area hasn't changed. A bit like Northern Moz and north eastern Kenya where you still hear of man eaters.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Reading J,Taylor's "Maneaters and Marauders" at the moment. It seems this area hasn't changed. A bit like Northern Moz and north eastern Kenya where you still hear of man eaters.

And still fairly common in Luangwa.

Chifuti PH Mark Valero shot two of the 4 lionesses that were doing the damage. Quiet ever since. He did a interview Boddington is working on.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
Chifuti PH Mark Valero shot two of the 4 lionesses that were doing the damage. Quiet ever since. He did a interview Boddington is working on.

Interesting that the last spate of man eating here was also Lioness?

While visiting that region recently, I heard that the pride either had 11 lions or it had eaten 11 people. Two of the lions were still on the loose but maneating ceased. The pride leader was an old female who was shot by a native with a shotgun. I think that Kathi's article might be premature.

Incidentally, the northeast corner of Zimbabwe and "lower Zambezi" are the same place.