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Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A 42-YEAR-OLD Chipinge man is lucky to be alive after he was attacked by two lions while on his way home from his field last week.

Peresu Sithole of Maronga area under Chief Mutema lost a chunk of his behind following the attack and was reportedly in a stable condition after being treated at Chibuwe Clinic.

Chipinge Rural District Council Ward 16 councillor Rephias Sithole-Mapahla, who is a brother to Peresu, confirmed the incident and said the lions had strayed from Save Conservancy.

“Yes, I can confirm that my brother was attacked by two lions, a lion and a lioness around 9pm while he was walking from Musikavanhu Irrigation Scheme to Chibuwe area.

“On this fateful day, Peresu was walking alone and was suddenly attacked by the lioness. He tried to run for dear life, but could not get away as the lioness pounced on him.

“It knocked him to the ground and mauled his buttocks. Another lion emerged but it did not attack him,” he said.

Clr Mapahla said his brother could not recall what happened after as the lioness pinned him down.

“Peresu said he fainted after being knocked down as fear overcame him. He did not remember what happened beyond that point. When he regained consciousness, the lions had left. He managed to crawl until he was assisted by a passerby,” he said.

Clr Mapahla added: “When we visited the scene the following morning we discovered that the lions were not hungry since they had killed two donkeys before pouncing on my brother.

“If it was not for that, my brother would have been killed. After the incident my brother did not make any report, but I encouraged him to seek medical attention and report to the police,” said Clr Mapahla.

Clr Maphla urged the responsible authority to urgently intervene and kill the lions. “We are urging relevant authorities to do something and drive away these cats from our homes,” he said.

Human and animal conflict is rife in Chipinge as wild animals that stray from Save Conservancy continue to wreak havoc.

Earlier this year another man from Dzika village in Chipinge East survived death by a whisker after being attacked by a lion while herding cattle.