The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
Alleged sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in parts of Chipinge and Chimanimani set tongues wagging last week.
UFOs are generally considered to be “any airborne object which by performance, aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features, does not conform to any presently known aircraft or missile type, or which cannot be positively identified as a familiar object”.
Reports from Chipinge and Chimanimani suggested that a huge, star-like object fell from the sky and exploded.
This allegedly happened in Muswera Village under Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge.
Similar sightings were reported in Chief Muusha’s area in Chimanimani.
Authorities are investigating what happened.
“We have a person who was injured and it is within our mandate to make investigations. As we speak, we have a team on the ground. Relevant authorities have also been engaged. We will be giving you finer details after we are done with the investigations,” said Civil Protection Unit (CPU) director Mr Nathan Nkomo in an interview with The Sunday Mail Society.
The Meteorological Services Department confirmed the sightings.
As the news spread across the country, some people in faraway places such as Harare also claimed to have witnessed the unusual phenomenon.
“It was around 9pm and I saw a huge ball in the sky. I thought an aeroplane was falling from the sky. The following morning, I heard that the same object was also seen in some parts of Chipinge and Chimanimani,” a social media blogger only identified as Mutape said.
“I personally saw this object when I was driving to Chitungwiza from Machipisa around 9pm last Friday.
“I immediately thought it was a meteor, but this one lasted longer than any that I have seen before.
“There were moments it was going into the dark as if passing through clouds. I was gripped with fear when I saw the object not burning off as usually happens with shooting stars.
“I thought if this thing gets to the ground not fully burnt, there would be disaster. I didn’t know it landed in Chipinge,” added Mr Andrea Munyangaru.
A Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) report indicated that a Chipinge man was injured when he fell off his motorbike after coming face-to-face with the strange object.
Richman Myambo (47), who was recovering in hospital, is quoted saying he “fell off the motorbike after an instant strange flashlight from an alleged unidentified flying object blinded him”.
There are accounts from those that are claiming to have seen the UFO.
Some are claiming they saw an “unusual green and flickering light”.
“According to some locals, a huge star-like object fell from the sky and exploded six times. The star shone so brightly that it appeared as if it was daylight,” said Chief Muusha (born Chenjerai Maosa) of Chimanimani.
The traditional leader, however, said this was not extraordinary.
“This is something that happens occasionally and a good omen. Stars have fallen from the sky since time immemorial. I wonder why people are making a fuss out of this,” he said.
UFO sightings have been reported in all parts of the world since ancient times.
The September 16, 1994 alleged sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO) by a group of Ariel Primary School learners in Ruwa remains Zimbabwe’s closest encounter with extraterrestrial life.
The world woke up to news that a UFO with strange creatures aboard had landed at the school grounds and was seen by 62 learners during a mid-morning break.
The children were between the ages of five and 12.
Horrified, the learners fled as the creature advanced towards them.
A few of the older ones stood and watched in both awe and terror as the creature retreated, boarded its vessel and flew off.
According to UFO researchers, it was the first time a large group of people had reported witnessing the appearance of spaceships and alien beings.
A flight of strange objects and ships were reported to have hovered across Zimbabwean skies for two nights prior to the Ariel landing.
Similar observations were made in Hwange, Bulawayo and Kariba.
Several Southern African countries also reported on the strange flying vessels.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail in 2015, Mrs Debra Nicholson of Chawara in Kariba said she saw a mysterious flying object hovering above her home.
“It was very hot that night and as I was sitting on the lawn at around 7pm, I saw a round figure with plenty of lights hovering above our home.
“The object was definitely not an (airplane) since it was too round to be one. It silently flew over our home before it disappeared,” Mrs Nicholson said.
She said she alerted a neighbour and many others who saw the UFO.
