Wild animals flee veld fires, invade villages

By Richard Muponde in Dete

From The Chronicle
September 15, 2009

WILD animals running away from veld fires that ravaged Hwange National Park recently have invaded Dete, leaving villagers in constant fear of their lives.
Villagers in Dete told Chronicle that a herd of elephants and a pride of lions invaded the area three weeks ago.
They said they are roaming the area, coming to homesteads and putting their lives in danger.
This reporter on Saturday morning came across a herd of about 50 elephants heading to homesteads across the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road at Cross Mabale.
The former Hwange West Member of the House of Assembly, Mr Jealous Sansole, who lives in Dete said: "I got a report from some villagers that they saw a herd of elephants roaming the villages here and coming to homesteads. They are running away from fires in the Hwange National Park."
He said Minister of State Enterprises Gabuza Joel Gabuza, recently lost livestock to the lions.
"He lost beasts to the lions recently and there are fears that if the pride is left unchecked people would lose their livestock. We just hope they will be captured soon and returned to the park," said Mr Sansole.
An official at the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, which is responsible for the recapture of the animals, said they received reports of a pride of lions seen in the villages and there are fears that it might attack domestic animals and humans.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for professional reasons, the official explained that the lions action has yet been taken.
“The problem is that no one is making a follow up. These lions are easy to detect since they have detector belts on their necks.
"We are now fearing that they might attack people and livestock. The pride is seen in broad daylight moving in the villages. A report was made to relevant authorities," he said.
Veld fires that broke out at the Hwange National Park destroyed more than 3 000 hectares.
Reports said two fires started at Mambanje area in the eastern border of the national park while the other broke out in the Matetsi area through Sinamatela. It is said 1 000 hectares were destroyed in Mambanje and 2 000 in Matetsi.
Meanwhile, 10 people have died in veld fires that broke out in the country in the past two weeks, police revealed yesterday.
In a statement, police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said they were disturbed at the loss of life witnessed in the period due to veld fires.
"About 10 people unnecessarily lost their lives because there is a resurgence of people who deliberately cause uncontrolled veld fires in various parts of the country,” he said.
Chief Supt Mandipaka appealed to members of the public especially those residing in farms to act responsibly and stop causing veld fires.
He made reference to a recent case where a 72-year-old farm worker in Crosby Farm in Nyamandlovu set a fire to burn dry maize stock and in the process, the fire spread to his neighbour's homestead and destroyed his property.
"The fire spread to Plot number 8 Umguza and a timber made storeroom containing seven tonnes of fertiliser, two spraying machines, 20 goats and various clothes were burnt to ashes," said Chief Sup Mandipaka.
He said members of the public should appreciate that uncontrolled fires during the dry season pose a great danger to both flora and fauna.

I just returned from Deka and can vouch for the fires. We could see smoke rising in all directions and actually saw some of the burning on the road to Hwange park. Even after getting back on Saturday, I could smell smoke on the clothes in my suitcase.

It does make beautiful sunsets and sunrises, though!