The ManicaPost
Sharon Chigeza – Post Correspondent
The Parks & Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe (Zimparks) have today dismissed a social media story about a stray male lion roaming the Christmas Pass mountains in Mutare as a hoax.
Zimparks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo in an interview with The Manica Post assured the public that there was no such lion and if such may have been the case his office would have been notified.
“I wish to assure the public that there is no stray lion roaming Christmas Pass and Zimparks has not received any reports of such nature. The message being circulated on social media is just but a hoax causing unnecessary panic to the public,” he said.
He further explained it as impossible for a lion to have crossed over from Mozambique to the Pass as stated by the social media message noting that male lions are lazy and do not walk long distances.
Mr Farawo advised the public to verify with Zimparks on any reports of stray wild animals before causing unnecessary panic on social media.
“I advise the public to verify any reports on stray dangerous wild animals with the ZimParks Public Relations Department before conveying messages. This will cause unnecessary panic and disruption of day to day business,” he said.
The hoax message circulating on social media states the sighting of a male lion along the Harare-Mutare highway just as one ascends the Pass from Harare. It is also accompanied by a photograph of the lion taken at night.
