Wild animals terrorise Gokwe community

From Kamangeni Phiri in Gokwe

WILD animals, including lions, elephants and hyenas, are causing havoc in some parts of Gokwe North by destroying crops and eating domestic animals.

The most affected areas were Gumunyu, Mashame and Chireya, all under Chief Chireya and Nenyungu under Chief Nenyungu.
Speaking after the commissioning of Gunguhwe Bridge in Mashame area by the Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday, villagers said the animals were straying from Matusadonha National Park in Kariba.
“We have lions that are devouring our goats and donkeys in the Nenyungu area. They at times attack people. A number of lives have been lost in the past,†said Mr Takunda Moyo from Nenyungu area.
Another villager, Mr Philip Nyahambi, from Chireya, said hyenas were targeting goats and calves in Jirivanda and Chemhondoro. He said the hyenas hid in nearby Muparabasa Mountain.
In headman Mashame’s and surrounding areas, elephants were destroying the little crops that had survived the drought.
The headman, Mr Kingrosse Mashame, said the elephants were a perennial problem and targeted the cotton crop.
“They often come in April. There are many of them roving around destroying our crops, especially cotton, and other forms of vegetation.
“The problem is that we share a border with Kariba’s Nyaminyami district in Mashonaland West. The animals are not being monitored. We have since made representations to the ministerial team led by Cde Mnangagwa to address the problem,†he said.
Mr Mashame said villagers were now afraid to move around at night because of the wild animals.
Earlier, chiefs from various parts of Gokwe North briefed Cde Mnangagwa on the menace caused by the wild animals.