Hundreds of buffaloes drown in Botswana

More than 400 buffaloes believed to have been chased by lions drowned in a river in northern Botswana this week, the government said.

The mass drowning occurred on Tuesday night in Chobe River on the border with Namibia.

Investigations by authorities in both countries "suggest that an exceptionally large buffalo herd was grazing in Namibia when they stampeded into the Chobe River," Botswana's Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism said in a statement late Wednesday.

"Initial indications are that they were being chased by a pride of lions," it said.

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Zimbabwe bus crash toll hits 47

At least 47 people were killed in Zimbabwe on Wednesday when two buses collided on a road between the capital Harare and the southeastern town of Rusape, police confirmed to AFP.

"We confirm 47 people have died in a road traffic accident at the 166-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway," police spokesman Paul Nyathi said.

In a post on Twitter, the state-run Herald newspaper said pictures from the scene were too graphic to post.

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At least 10 men arrested in Zanzibar for same sex wedding – report

At least 10 men have been arrested for allegedly conducting a same-sex marriage ceremony on the Tanzanian Island of Zanzibar, says a report.

According to BBC, police said the arrests were made over the weekend after they received a tip off from the public.

No charges had yet been brought against the men, all Tanzanian, who were being held at a police station.

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Mauritania buses collide killing 11

At least 11 people were killed and 44 injured on Wednesday when two buses collided on a road between Mauritania's capital Nouakchott and the central city of Aleg, doctors and police said.

Five passengers died in the crash and six more on their way to hospital in Aleg, a doctor said.

The 11 comprised six Mauritanians, two Ivorians, two Togolese and an 11th individual who has not been identified.

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Gunmen abduct four Catholic priests in Nigeria: state official

Gunmen have abducted four Catholic priests in southern Nigeria, a local state official told AFP Wednesday.

The kidnapping happened on Tuesday at a border community between Edo and Delta States in the south, said Andrew Aniamaka, a spokesperson for Delta State.

"They were abducted on their way to Ekpoma, Edo state, from Delta for an event," he added, saying police and local security were hunting for the gunmen.

A source at the Warri Catholic diocese in Delta State confirmed the incident, which comes less than three weeks after five Catholic nuns were kidnapped in Delta State.

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