High on the Nthunta Escarpment, near the Nthunta Scout Post, stands a small memorial to Mary Gough. Memories of the origins of this are hazy, but it's said that she was a woman who went (against all advice) to camp alone and unprotected for a long time on the Chifungwe Plain in the 1970s. Some remains of her body and clothing were found, from which it was deduced that she had been eaten by lions – and hence she was buried here.

I'm told that a few years later, during the height of Zimbabwe's war for independence, her son from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) came here, to re-visit the memorial. Local sources allege that he was a spy, who fed back information to the Rhodesian armed forces – resulting in the bombing of several bridges along the Great North Road. However, it seems he was never caught or charged with this – so the truth is uncertain.

Perhaps a reader could confirm or refute this rough history for sure? Then I'll expand on the facts and stories around this memorial in the next edition!