LITS over Africa: Lake Kyle, Masvingo

What was reported

On Thursday 28 May 1998 at 8 pm Sandy stepped onto her verandah at Lake Kyle and saw a very bright, fast-moving light high among the stars in a clear sky, flashing as it moved and throwing a fixed beam like someone welding metal. Heading east, it suddenly turned, not as an aircraft would, and made off south towards South Africa at increased speed, passing high in front of the house. Her husband saw it too while she fetched binoculars. Both know aircraft lights, which flash red or green; this was white and far larger than a star. Hind suggested the bolide that passed over Harare on 21 May, but Sandy fixed the date by having paid her maid the day before. Hind's sketch marks a right-angle turn; she can only think of a satellite, yet the sharp turn rules that out.

What Hind made of it

Undoubtedly still an Unidentified; the sharp change of direction rules out a satellite.

Explanation offered
Satellite (4-5000 in orbit) considered and rejected; Hind's suggestion of the 21 May bolide over Harare rejected by the witness on the date.

In their words

• Then it suddenly turned, but not like a normal plane would turn, and moved off in a southerly direction, towards South Africa.

• Undoubtedly, it still remains an Unidentified.

Cross references

• bolide over Harare, 21st May 1998
• Figure 1: LITS turn (spread 18)

Source

Cynthia Hind, UFO Afrinews No 19 (January 1999), spread 18