Lions are reported to have strayed into communities near Mkushi township in Central Province.
Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Command in Mkushi district confirmed reports of lions being seen in several areas close to the Boma during the course of last week.
Mkushi’s ZAWA Officer in Charge, Paul Kashoti, confirmed that 3 lions had been sighted in locations such as Ilume and Ross Farm, adding that both areas are less than 6 km from main residential settlements of the township.
Mr Kashoti said that following tip-offs from residents of these communities, ZAWA Officers rushed to these locations and confirmed the presence of the beasts.
He elaborated that his department were then called upon to conduct patrols as a response to similar reports of lion sightings in Musakamba, about 10 km from the Boma, where the presence of lions was confirmed through foot print marks.
He said that no human lives had been lost so far since the reports of lion sightings begun circulating in the district late last month, but disclosed that the lions had killed 2 cows in Chief Mulungwes Fiwila’s area three weeks ago.
Mr Kashoti assured that ZAWA had embarked on patrols to track down the beasts in a bid to ensure the safety of human settlements in the affected areas, and residents had been cautioned against straying from their homes after dusk.
He however dispelled reports claiming that a pride of lions had hovered around close to the chief’s palace.
He said that officers had rushed to the area and confirmed that the beasts were in fact hyenas that had killed a goat in Kangalati.
Mr Kashoti also brushed aside rumours of lions having killed a teacher in the same area, saying that ZAWA only confirmed the presence of a pack of hyenas roaming in Chitina and Musofu areas.
Mr Kashoti stressed that there was need for residents to desist from tampering with or adding poison to carcasses of animals that are suspected to have been killed by lions, adding that carcasses were valuable to ZAWA’s efforts to track down the lions.
He, however, said although ZAWA was eager to address the issue, the department was facing challenges such as lack of transport and shortage of manpower.
But Mr Kashoti expressed hope that progress would be made in the efforts to avert the threat posed by roaming lions that are said to be causing panic in several communities.
ZANIS
GRZ..awe mwandini..ati no transport..useless..
Sorry didnt mean to stray so far…:d
lol!!!!
ZAWA also use this lame excuse of lack of transport and shortage of manpower, thought it was only the POPO..Its a government thing i guess
you can send sata to sort them out
Didn’t some bu.ffoon dissolve the ZAWA board claiming that they were more interested in protecting animals than people?
SAWA truck the beast asap guys.
i did not see any cattle at chief Mulungwe’s area last year when i went to secure land there… i hope the lions will finish all the chickens and goats that belong to the chief for “chopping my money for nothing”
KUDYA NIKUSHETA…A LITTLE BIT OF CORRUPTION IS ALLOWED..WALABA SHANI?
A traditional “attempt” at the chief. Watch out
Live the LIONS to enjoy their freedom of movement;who are you to trample on their rights????
@whistle blower ;KUDYA NIKUSHETA…A LITTLE BIT OF CORRUPTION IS ALLOWED..WALABA SHANI?
“and residents had been cautioned against straying from their homes after dusk”.
Are you sure that is the correct advise Mr Kashoti, or should it be before dusk, and after dawn?
I dont think those are wild beasts they should be in a human form, be carefull with bembas
May be that is why Ukwa dissolved the ZAWA board! very laughable:)
it was just a big dog from mayadi,after a shooting of unregistered dogs,so it discovered that it was not registered,were can a lion come from in mushili?
Baba, it is Mkushi, NOT Mushili!!! Mkushi is close to Luano valley and Luangwa National parks were wild beasts still roam. In fact, even just around that area (Mkushi area) there is still plenty of untouched wilderness (not national parks) with a lot of wild animals! I know this because my Uncle lived in that area and was a very good hunter, and never poached his entire life.
Pwando you have made a bad situation worse…
@12, akulu mphuno:
Iwe ndiwe waboza, ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?! To you any area North of Lusaka is Bembaland, yes? Central Province, where Mkushi is located, is NOT Bembaland achimwene. Mkushi is a homeland for mostly the Maswaka, Lala, and peoples of similar dialects, and NOT aba Bemba. In fact, if I am not mistaken, all the chiefs mentioned here are Swaka chiefs—please, make an effort to educate yourself about your own country.
These assumptions and conclusions about the Bemba speaking people are embarrassing. Soon we will be assuming chief Mushili or chief Nkana are Bemba chiefs just because Bemba is widely spoken in the Metropolitan areas of the Copperbelt province. How ignorant can one get!!!!!!!!