Kitwe residents in ‘croc terror’
By ALEX NJOVU

Zambia Daily Mail

KITWE residents have appealed to Zambia World Life Authority (ZAWA) to crop the crocodiles that have been killing people near the Mindolo stream in Kitwe.

John Mafinge, a Kitwe resident who crosses the stream often times said pedestrians feared for the lives whenever they moved about in Chimwemwe, Kwacha, Bulangililo, Buchi and Kamintondo townships.

He said residents from the four densely populated townships were being attacked by the beasts whenever they crossed the stream using a small bridge along Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) pylons because that was a shorter by-pass.

Mr Mafinge said ZAWA should intervene without delay because the higher water levels have made it easier for the beats to pounce on the pedestrians.

He said several residents were worried at the rate at which the reptiles were attacking them.

Another resident, Joseph Machilika recalled that when former a Kitwe City Council grader operator, Wilson Lungu captured the crocodile which maimed his son and kept it in a small pond near his house he was in trouble with ZAWA.

Mr Machilika said Mr Lungu captured the reptile because it nearly killed his son leaving him with serious injuries on his body.

On Monday a 28- year-old man in Kitwe escaped death after he struggled to free himself from its jaws of a crocodile in the Mindolo stream in Chimwemwe Township.