Friday, January 15, 2010

A hyena attack on a funeral in remote eastern Zimbabwe has left shocked villagers trading accusations of witchcraft

Three hyenas attacked sleeping mourners at an all-night vigil for a local farmer. One of the hyenas got into a hut and mauled a woman, sparking panic. "There was screaming and commotion in the kitchen hut as the hyena entered," a mourner said. "It got out and charged at the fireplace where it attacked another person." That victim was dragged away from the fireplace by the hyena. He was only saved when other mourners started kicking it. The incident has revived age-old superstitions, with some angry villagers accusing the dead man of being a witch. According to Zimbabwean tradition, hyenas carry witches.

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