Zimpapers Logo

The councillor for Ward Six, Clr Joseph Itani Muleya, who is also the Beitbridge Rural District Council chairperson of the natural resources management committee, said the hyenas had terrorised the villagers since last year. He said the jumbos were reportedly destroying crops in several areas while the hyenas were killing livestock in Ward Six.

“Last year between January and December hyenas killed a total of 272 donkeys, 76 head of cattle and 344 goats in Ward Six, which includes Umzingwane, River Ranch and Makakavhule villages. We recently hired officials from the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to assist in controlling these marauding animals but now our coffers have run dry and we are now appealing for more funding to fight the ongoing onslaught.

“You will realise that Beitbridge district is a wild animal area and hence the need to urgently address the problem considering the rate at which our livestock is being killed as we watch helplessly,”
Clr Muleya said.

He said crops in Wards One, Two, Three, Four, Six and 14 were also being destroyed by stray elephants from neighbouring Kruger National Park.
The affected areas include Tshikwalakwala, Tshitulipasi and Tshamaswiswi.-Chronicle