Hippo attacks Chiredzi couple

By George Maponga in Masvingo and Patrick Chitumba

From The Herald
October 20, 2010

A 16-YEAR-OLD Chiredzi boy saved his parents’ lives when a hippo attacked them and left them with broken limbs.

Ezekiel Labhela (57) and his wife, Tracy Kambare (50), of Lot 6 Eleneburgh near Hippo Valley Estates, were saved by their son who drove away the animal on Sunday.

They were reportedly in their sugarcane field on the banks of Chiredzi River when the animal pounced on them.

Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Tineyi Matake on Monday said the two were being treated at Chiredzi District Hospital.

It is believed that at around 4am on Sunday, the couple and their son went to their sugarcane field.

They saw two hippos emerging from the nearby Chiredzi River and they tried to frighten the animals but the hippos instead charged and they took to their heels.

Labhela and Kambare failed to outrun the hippos and were attacked, suffering broken limbs.

Seeing the trouble his parents were in, the son reportedly turned back and scared away the animals.

The couple was rushed to Chiredzi Hospital.

Insp Matake urged members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with wild animals.

Meanwhile, Chief Mvutu of Jambezi in Hwange West has lost eight cattle to marauding lions and hyenas.

He is one of many villagers who have lost livestock to wild animals in recent months.

More than 70 cattle have fallen prey to lions and hyenas.

The villagers have demanded that the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Campfire do something about the situation.

In an interview on Monday, an angry Chief Mvutu said: “During harvest time, we face the perennial problem of elephants destroying our yields.

“Then after that lions and hyenas descend on us and eat our livestock. Campfire is only interested in protecting wild animals without considering what communities are going through.

“We believe Campfire is only benefiting rural district councils.”

Chief Mvutu said the Parks Authority had a mandate to deal with rogue beasts.

“This is very sad because we the poor villagers do not matter to anyone. We are worthless because our problems are not recognised.

“However, if we were to take the law into our own hands and kill these problem animals, we were told that we will be arrested and we believe that is not fair at all,” he said.

I am sorry these people were injured, but can't help but find it amusing that they were 'pounced' on by the hippo. I can see it in my mind's eye, kind of....