A 25-year-old man from Matetsi Village in Hwange District is receiving treatment at Victoria Falls Hospital after surviving an attack by two lions near Lubangwe, in the latest incident highlighting the growing human-wildlife conflict in the area.
Photos obtained by VicFallsLive show deep claw wounds across Clement Sibanda’s back following the attack, which occurred a few days ago. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Matetsi Ward Councillor Vulindlela Mhlanga confirmed the attack, saying an investigation team was on the ground to establish exactly what happened.
“Yes, there was a young man who was attacked by lions at Lubangwe,” Mhlanga said.
“So far there is nothing concrete we can say. We have an investigation team on the ground trying to establish exactly what happened, where, and how. We know about the lions that stay in that area. Every year a female lion comes with her cubs, raises them there and then goes back to the parks. We are still trying to gather the correct information on the time and exact location of the incident.”
Mhlanga said he would visit Sibanda at Victoria Falls Hospital to assess what assistance was needed for his treatment.
“In the next three hours I will be at the hospital to find out what is needed for the patient to be treated. As the Matetsi community, we will pay for the bills and make sure he gets the right medication while we are dealing with the lion in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and CAMPFIRE.”
He said the attack was another reminder of the challenges faced by communities living alongside wildlife.
“We stay in a wildlife area and we always face different types of wildlife and human conflict. Besides killing or injuring people, these animals destroy crops in our farms and even kill our domestic animals. This is not the first time a lion has attacked a person. Two years ago there was a person whose finger was bitten by a lion, and that lioness was later shot dead.”
To reduce such incidents, Mhlanga said the ward conducts quarterly awareness campaigns on coexisting with wildlife and encourages people to establish businesses closer to residential areas.
Hwange District Medical Officer Dr Fungai Musinami confirmed that a man injured in a lion attack was admitted to Victoria Falls Hospital but declined to comment on the extent of his injuries without the patient’s consent.
Hwange Rural District Council, Environment Office representative, Nxolelani Ncube said his office had not yet received an official report and was only aware of reports circulating on social media.
Investigations involving ZimParks, CAMPFIRE and the local community are ongoing.
VicFallsLive is making efforts to visit Sibanda at Victoria Falls Hospital to establish what happened during the attack and obtain an update on his condition.