Lions, elephants wreak havoc in Centenary

Herald Reporters
April 30, 2010

Farmers have raised concern over the rise in cases of elephants and lions escaping from national game parks and destroying crops and livestock.

Stray lions are on the prowl in parts of Centenary where they have reportedly killed livestock.

The fence surrounding Mavhuradona Game Park was vandalised before new farmers were resettled in the area and it is yet to be repaired.

"I have lost one heifer and a calf to the lions and I am not the only one. My neighbour has lost much more and others are losing their goats," one farmer said.

Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials this week said they were working to rectify the situation.

Elephants have reportedly escaped from Nyamuswa National Park in Chinhoyi and destroyed maize and cotton.

The Magoki area is the worst affected.

Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union Mashonaland West provincial boss Mr Trust Muzozviona said: "As many of us know, the rains have not been favourable this season resulting in poor yields for the local farmers.

"To make their situation worse, the little that they have is being destroyed by the elephants."

Mr Muzozviona said a meeting between the farmers, ZFU and the Parks Authority would be held soon to come up with a lasting solution.

"We hope this meeting will map the way forward as we seek to contain the elephants and stop any further losses as this has been a recurrent problem for the past few years," he said.

He said some farmers had asked the union to enlist the services of professionals to hunt down the elephants.

Mr Muzozviona urged farmers to insure their crops in order to prevent total loss in the event of such disasters.

And the shade of 'maswera Se' raises his head again..."it is witchcraft I tell you" (District administators words to me )

Still was the camp -so cold, so still
In the dim dead Hours before the dawn,
When a cry rang out to the far off hill,
And Marrow and bones went cold and chill
And slumber was Forsworn

For a lion slunk in the deeper shade,
And his footfall thudded low -so low-
Over the grass of a tiny glade;
Hardley a sound - but the die was played,
And he took a man from the row... (Written in the same area 1905)

and even earlier....

Just a cry in the night - then a roar, and a shout
And the grass springs alight, and the fires blaze out-
Is he here? Is he there? Let us peer, let us stare
But he is off to his lair, though his scents still about.

Just a rending of flesh and a crunching of bone,
And a growling afresh and a pittiful groan-
Do you hear it? Ah Ssh! how they scramble and push!-
See! There's blood on that bush! Did you hear the man moan?

Have you matches? Ah Good! and a candle to spare?
I should put on the hood - it will lessen the glare.
I've the small .303 What have you? SSG?
Well, here's luck till we see if He's left us the hair!

(and they were braver men than I who would set off in the dark with 'candel lamps' a .303 (single shot martini) and a shotgun to look for a lion who has taken one of the camp hands....)