Story by Yolanda Moyo
A 25-year-old man is recovering at Victoria Falls Hospital after surviving an attack by a female lion and her two cubs in Lubangwe, Hwange District.
Clement Sibanda was attacked while walking home from the shops in the community, which lies near one of Africa’s largest protected wildlife areas.
Speaking to ZBC News on Tuesday, Sibanda recounted the terrifying encounter, saying he escaped by climbing a tree.
The incident comes amid growing concern over increasing human-wildlife conflict in communities bordering national parks and wildlife corridors, where expanding settlements, prolonged drought and shrinking natural habitats are bringing people and wild animals into closer contact.
The recurring encounters have heightened concerns over public safety while underscoring the need to protect one of southern Africa’s most important wildlife populations.
Government is developing a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund to strengthen support for affected families, improve compensation mechanisms and finance measures aimed at reducing encounters between people and wildlife.
Officials say the fund will complement existing conservation programmes while promoting greater community participation in wildlife management.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Mr Luckmore Safuli said human-wildlife conflict remains a major conservation challenge.
He said the authority is working with communities and development partners to strengthen early warning systems, raise public awareness and implement measures that promote the safe coexistence of people and wildlife.
