Zimpapers Logo

As a result of the pride of marauding lions, villagers, including Chief Mvutu, have lost dozens of 60 livestock worth thousands of dollars since January while the elephants  have destroyed infrastructure, fields and gardens in search of water and food.

Chief Shana said 21 elephants descended on BH31 where they destroyed the “little crops” that were still in the fields.

“They destroyed watermelons that were still in the fields at BH31 and I hear the herd is  moving towards more villages. The animals are coming from the forestry area into villages because we were resettled by  the colonisers adjacent to the wild animal habitat,” said Chief Shana.

He said they needed to be protected from the animals and called on the parks officials to drive out the animals.

Chief Shana also said they needed to be compensated for the loss of their livestock and crops.

“We need to be protected and so do people in the resettlement areas from these animals. How can we replace  the cattle, the donkeys, the goats that have been eaten by the lions?

“How can we replace the yields that have been destroyed by the elephants? We feel we are being let down yet we should be celebrating the existence of the animals in our area, which is a blessing,” he said.

He said because of the lions, people in areas such as Mvutu, Mbizha, Jambezi, Milonga under Chief Shana no longer had freedom of movement.
“Some now fear even going to their fields and let alone go to the shops and medical institutions which are located very far,” said Chief Shana.