/ 28 May 2000

LIONS CHASE WAR VETS FROM ZIM PARK

WAR veterans and their supporters who invaded a national park in the south of Zimbabwe narrowly escaped death when they were attacked by an angry pride of lions. The independent Daily News reports that a group of around 100 war veterans invaded a private game estate within the Gonarezhoue park, the country’s second largest, to press the government to resettle them, but fled when attacked by the lions. Police said the veterans intend to invade Gonarezhoue again. Meanwhile a Militant group of suspected war veterans launched an attack on a rural police station in northern Zimbabwe forcing police to fire teargas to disperse them. 19 Zanu-PF members and supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change were arrested in the town on Wednesday in connection with clashes between the rivals after a Zanu-PF election campaign rally last week.