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Game ranger accused of killing lions, appears in court

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZIMPARKS) ranger appeared before Hwange  Magistrates Court on Saturday, accused of killing three lions and removing their heads and paws.

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Hali Mabuya, 39, and employee of the at Hwange National Park’s Mtshibi Camp, appeared before magistrate Fungai Dzimbiri facing charges of unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate.

The three lions, two females and one male, were found dead near the Dom Pan waterhole inside Hwange National Park on October 22.

The killing and dismembering of the animals is believed to have been carried out by more than one person, as tyre marks and footprints were observed at the scene.

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ZIMPARKS had offered a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

Prosecutor Jemesina Makanza told the court that Mabuya was arrested after attempting to return a Point 458 rifle to the armoury, with requests to alter the dates of when he had signed for and returned the weapon.

The rifle has since been matched to the bullets that killed the lions.

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Mabuya was remanded in custody to November 1, as the investigation continues.

VicFallsLive will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Hwange

Victoria Falls hospital ill-equipped to handle mental health issues

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Dr Fungai Musinami

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Doctor Fungai Musinami, Hange district medical officer, revealed in an interview that Victoria Falls Hospital is not adequately equipped to address mental health issues.

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“We do not have a dedicated mental health facility infrastructure or even a drug or substance abuse rehabilitation at the moment,” she said. “But there are projects that are ongoing to try and establish something within the city.”

Despite these challenges, Musinami emphasized that the government is working to prioritize mental health and address the interconnected issue of drug and substance abuse.

“We are working together with drug and substance abuse because these two go together,” she explained.

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However, the situation in the whole province is dire.

Out of all the seven district hospitals, none has a facility to handle mental health issues, instead, patients are referred to other institutions in Bulawayo or further.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Zimbabwe has one of the highest suicide rates in Africa, with 18.4 suicides per 100 000 people.

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The WHO notes that mental health issues are often stigmatized in Zimbabwean culture, leading to a lack of seeking help and support.

In the background, Zimbabwe is grappling with a mental health crisis, exacerbated by social and economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, and trauma. Research has shown that these factors contribute significantly to mental health problems in Zimbabwe.

Musinami emphasized that community-based initiatives like the Friendship Bench are making a difference.

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“We have trained community health workers for support of mental health,” she said.

“We are looking at scaling that up in the days to come, so that within your wards in the communities, there will be someone trained to do counseling through the Friendship Bench model.”

As Musinami noted that lot of people that end up committing suicide will give hints along the way.

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Buffaloes wreak havoc in Victoria Falls, residents living in fear

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Residents of Mkhosana in Victoria Falls are living in fear as a large herd of buffaloes continues to invade their communities, destroying vegetable gardens and posing a threat to human life.

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https://x.com/Vic_Falls_Live/status/1853724332553314445/video/1

According to eyewitnesses, the buffaloes, estimated to be around 30-40, have been encroaching into the communities since June, with some residents reporting that they have been vandalizing their gardens as early as 8 PM.

David Mpofu

David Mpofu, a resident of Mkhosana, expressed his concern, saying, “We are living in fear because these buffaloes come every day, destroying our vegetable gardens. We want the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers to take action and chase them away.”

Trymore Ndolo

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association member, Trymore Ndolo, who was also at the scene on Monday night close to the CBZ houses, expressed frustration, stating that the buffaloes are becoming a menace and encroaching into high-density residential areas.

The issue of human-wildlife conflict is escalating due to the ongoing drought, with elephants also encroaching into communities in search of water and food.

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Residents are crying foul as their source of food is being destroyed.

Last week, a large herd of buffaloes even invaded the Victoria Falls City Council water works premises, taking security guards by surprise and forcing them to hide.

In Mkhosana, the  buffaloes refused to budge until Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials arrived and chased them away.

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Residents are calling for urgent action to address the situation and ensure their safety and security.

 

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Schools in Tsholotsho destroyed by heavy rains, learners left conducting lessons under the trees

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week’s heavy rains have left a trail of destruction in Tsholotsho, with two schools severely affected.

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Nembe Primary School and Nembe Secondary School suffered significant infrastructure damage, displacing learners and prompting calls for urgent assistance.

 

According to Ward 22 Councillor Nkululeko Ndebele, the rains destroyed wall blocks, scattered blanks everywhere, and damaged walls at Nembe Primary School.

“The wall block of grade three and four was destroyed, and the office of the staff, administration block, and solar panels were also damaged,” he said.

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At Nembe Secondary School, the block used by Form One and Two students was destroyed, leaving learners without classrooms.

“Currently, the children are learning under the trees because no action has been taken,” Councillor Ndebele lamented.

The District Schools Inspector visited the site on Monday to assess the damage, and a further visit is scheduled for today to determine the extent of the destruction.

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Councillor Ndebele appealed for international assistance, citing the economic situation and drought ravaging the communities.

“Parents cannot afford to rebuild the schools, and we need help from anyone willing to assist,” he said.

Ndebele says the schools, built in the 1950s, have never been maintained, and their age has contributed to the extent of the damage.

“We are getting into the rain season, and we urgently need help to rebuild and restore these schools,” Councillor Ndebele emphasized.

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