MALAWIAN GAME RANGERS SHOOT ZAMBIAN

LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes

@SunZambian

MALAWIAN wildlife officers, armed with two unknown firearms, are suspected to have shot at a Zambian national, identified as George Manda of Lundazi District, and wounded him in the thigh.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner, Lackson Sakala, confirmed the incident which happened near Kasungu National Park, about 100 metres from the Zambia-Malawi border.

Mr Sakala said Mr Manda, 46, of Tiyese village in Chief Mwasemphangwe’s area was shot at when he strayed into the national park while trying to search for his missing herd of cattle on September 17 around 17:30 hours.

 “On Monday, Mr Manda was heading cattle when two Lions from Kasungu national park attacked the herd of cattle and killed one while the rest scattered,” Mr Sakala explained. 

He said, “The man went in the bush to look for the animals which were missing and while looking for the animals, he strayed into Kasungu National Park and it was then that suspected Malawians Wildlife officers who were doing some patrols at the park upon seeing him that he was armed, shot him in the left leg and took his gun.”

Mr Sakala said the man was taken to Lumezi Mission Hospital and that he was out of danger.

He said they were sending some officers to Malawi to seek audience with wildlife officers in that country so that they could get to the, bottom of what really happened and also retrieve the gun taken from him.

Mr Sakala warned that it was an office to go armed at a national park armed.