Zimpapers Logo

In an interview yesterday, a visibly angry Chief Mvutu said villagers were continually losing livestock to wild animals especially  to lions.
“The cattle were killed and eaten by the lions in the last three weeks. Since the beginning of the year, the whole district lost over 60 different types of livestock worth thousands of dollars to the marauding lions and hyenas,” he said.

Chief Mvutu said as a result, some  farmers had lost their draught power at a  time when they were preparing their fields for planting.
“Villagers are now living in constant fear  as we have realised that there is no end in  sight to this problem because we were forced  to settle here close to the game park by our colonisers,” he said.
Chief Mvutu, however, said he was happy   to note that the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers had responded quickly by camping in the area so that   they  could react quickly to any future attacks  on the livestock.

“Right now the rangers are in the area patrolling and they are able to respond swiftly to distress call,” he said.
Chief Mvutu said since the rangers moved   into the area, the pride of lions that   had been terrorising the villagers had disappeared.

“During harvest time, it is the elephants that cause havoc and now it is lions that are killing our livestock,” he said.
Chief Mvutu said they had also reported the matter to the rural district council hoping that the Community Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) would also assist where possible.

Villagers said moving around the area  was now dangerous as a result of the presence  of lions and hyenas.