09 November 2009, 01:41
KathiCrocodile menace in Kariba
Crocodile Menace In Kariba
http://www.radiovop.com Kariba, November 08, 2009 - Fishing in Kariba has become risky with
reports that crocodiles have killed at least three people weekly in the last
three months.
Ranganai Maparamhaka of Nyamhunga suburb said: '' We have had an
increased number of people being killed by crocodiles of late and this year
seems to be the worst so far.''
Maparamhaka has been living in the resort town for the past 15years.
Another resident, Chipo Mukai, also of Nyamhunga, added that the
crocodiles were in ''revenge mood'' as last year people were forced to eat
crocodile meat due to hunger that gripped Zimbabwe during its economic decay
over the political impasse between Zimbabwe's major parties.
''Crocodiles are in revenge mood as last year their meat was the only
cheap relish we could afford here," she said. The meat popularly known as
stali here was the cheapest for the majority.
Although, a delicacy among the tourists, its almost taboo to eat
crocodile meat in most parts of Zimbabwe.
A police officer based in Mahombekombe confirmed they had received
reports of at least three deaths weekly from mainly fishmongers killed by
crocodiles in Lake Kariba.
Fishing, is the major source of income, among the un-employed.
Zimbabwe's un-employment rate is estimated to be more than 80 percent.
However, an official with National Parks, said the organisation no
longer destroyed unhatched crocodile eggs as they used to do. This was done
to control crocodile population in the biggest man-made lake that generate
power to the country.
''We used to destroy unhatched crocodile eggs and it was a move aimed
at curbing crocodile over-population in the lake but its no longer the case
due to resources constraints in the department. Another factor that has seen
the crocodiles targettng fishmongers is due to lack of food in the lake,''
said a junior officer.