Lion scaring campaigners, electorate in Chitipa

Chitipa Central and North constituencies have suspended voter and civic education campaign amid fears that they might be attacked by a stray lion which continues to threaten people’s lives.

One of the constituency civic and voter education assistants (CCVEA) in Chitipa Central, Dickson Munyimbiri, said he is scared to go to Lwakwa in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwaulambia’s area which is the only place he has so far not reached.

“I don’t know what to do. It is dangerous to move in that area. People are just hiding in their homes because they are scared. The situation has affected civic and voter registration in the district,” he said.

Chitipa Police Station spokesperson Gladwell Simwaka said police and game rangers were early last week deployed to the area to hunt for the lion.

Chitipa district elections officer Michael Mkandawire advised the CCVEAs to suspend the campaign until the situation is normal.

The stray lion is believed to have escaped from Lwangwa Wildlife Reserve in Zambia.

Last week, the lion killed three heads of cattle and injured three people, one of whom reportedly died at Mzuzu Central Hospital where he was being treated as an in-patient.

Voter registration in Chitipa will start on October 8 and finish on October 21 this year.