Tinotenda Pudu, the 7-year-old boy from Kariba who was lost for four nights in the lion-infested Matusadonha Game Park late last month, has been profoundly affected by his harrowing ordeal, along with his family.
In an update on his situation on Wednesday, January 8, Mutsa Murombedzi, the Proportional Representation MP for Mashonaland West Province, revealed that she had spoken with the Mashonaland West Provincial Medical Director (PMD).
The PMD recommended that Tinotenda be temporarily relocated from his home for a few days to a calm environment, which would help facilitate his recovery process. Said Murombedzi:
<blockquote>
The mental health team has visited the boy down in the Zambezi Valley, and begun their assessments. It has become clear that his disappearance and harrowing ordeal &amp; encounter with big game animals in Matusadona game park, deep in the Zambezi Valley has deeply affected not only him but also his family.
As part of their recommendations, the team has decided to temporarily move Tinotenda and his mother away from their home for a few days to provide them with a safer &amp; calmer environment to prevent people from disturbing the recovery process.
Additionally, the mental health team will return and be stationed in the community for not less than seven days to continue providing support and monitoring the boy’s &amp; family’s progress.
With schools reopening soon, they will also engage the school authorities to ensure that when Tinotenda comes back to school, no interviews or discussions take place that might retraumatize him.
The mental health team still strongly advises against conducting any interviews at this stage as it may trigger emotional distress for Tinotenda.
</blockquote>
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), the boy disappeared on December 27, 2024, and was found on December 31, approximately 49 kilometres from his home.
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Remarkably, he survived in the game park by eating wild fruits and drinking water from a hole he dug in a dry riverbed.
After being rescued, Tinotenda was taken to a local clinic for preliminary examinations and later transferred to Siakobvu Hospital for further medical evaluations.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>
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Pindula News

Summary:
A 7-year-old boy, Tinotenda Pudu, who got lost in a lion-infested game park was found after four days. He needs time to recover from the scary experience, so he will be temporarily moved with his mother to a calm place. A team will help them and monitor their progress for at least a week. They don't want anything to upset him, especially interviews, because it could make him feel sad. The boy survived by eating wild fruits and drinking water from a hole he dug. He is now getting medical care to make sure he is okay.

7-Year-Old Matusadonha Game Park Survivor To Be Temporarily Relocated For Recovery

Tinotenda Pudu, a 7-year-old boy from Kariba in Mashonaland West Province, was lost for four nights in the lion-infested Matusadonha Game Park late last month before being rescued by rangers. After his dramatic ordeal, Tino has rested and stabilised.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a Proportional Representative Member of Parliament from the province, said a mental health team will soon assess Tinotenda to ensure he has not suffered any lasting trauma from his experience.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), the boy disappeared on December 27, 2024, and was found on December 31, approximately 49 kilometers from his home.
Remarkably, he survived in the game park by eating wild fruits and drinking water from a hole he dug in a dry riverbed.
After being rescued, Tinotenda was taken to a local clinic for preliminary examinations and later transferred to Siakobvu Hospital for further medical evaluations.
Meanwhile, Murombedzi said that she will continue to follow up and ensure Tinotenda receives all the care and support he needs during this recovery process. She wrote on X:
<blockquote>
I engaged with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Provincial Medical Director for Mashonaland West called me regarding Tinotenda’s well-being after his harrowing experience.
They have assured me that now that he has rested and was stabilized, a mental health team will soon assess him, focusing on his mental health, to ensure he has not suffered lasting trauma.
As part of their advice, they strongly recommended that no interviews be conducted with Tinotenda at this stage. Recounting his ordeal too soon may risk triggering emotional or psychological distress.
We will respect their professional guidance and wait for their green light before any further steps are taken…
I’ll continue to follow up and ensure Tinotenda receives all the care and support he needs during this recovery process. His mental well-being remains our top priority.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A 7-year-old boy named Tinotenda got lost in a park with lions for four nights. His health is now being checked by a mental health team. He disappeared on December 27th, 2024, and was found on December 31st around 49 kilometers away from home. He survived by eating fruits and drinking water from a hole he dug. He was taken to a clinic for a check-up and then to a hospital for more tests. A Member of Parliament promised to support Tinotenda during his recovery. Doctors want to make sure he is mentally okay before talking to him about his experience.

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