The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
LUCK ran out for a suspected poacher who was killed by a crocodile in Save River while evading arrest, The Manica Post has learnt.
This comes as another man who was poaching fish along the same river met the same fate in a separate incident, bringing the number of victims of human-wildlife conflicts to two within a week.
The Manica Post understands that the two men — Kudakwashe Masanzu of Masimbe Village and Munorweyi Nyamunda of Birchenough Bridge Growth Point — were attacked by the crocodiles in separate incidents.
To add insult to injury, hyenas have been wreaking havoc in Buhera, killing goats willy nilly.
On the other side of the province, stray buffaloes were spotted in the Chipindirwe area of Marange in Mutare District.
Villagers were this week put on high alert after the stray buffaloes were spotted roaming the area.
The buffaloes are suspected to have strayed from Save Valley Conservancy which hosts The Big Five.
If intercepted by inexperienced people, buffaloes may cause harm.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) rangers, in collaboration with a team from Mutare Rural District Council, were deployed to contain the situation in the area.
In a statement, ZimParks said they are trekking the buffaloes to take necessary corrective measures to prevent them from endangering people’s lives.
“Zimparks is informing you that we have just received a stray buffaloes report in Chipindirwe area of Marange. Communities are encouraged to minimise movements in thickets and tall grasses during these high alert moments.
“The most vulnerable groups include pupils, the elderly and people with disabilities. As usual, we are working with the Mutare District Development Co-ordinator’s office and traditional leadership to mobilise resources so that our team can attend to and mitigate this plight. If you find yourself near these dangerous animals, climb up a tree for safety,” said Zimparks.
In the crocodile attacks, Masanzu went for a poaching expedition in the Save Conservancy with his two friends – David Gudo and Joseph Jambaya.
The three were intercepted by game rangers but managed to evade arrest by jumping into Save River.
Masanzu was then attacked by the crocodile as he tried to cross the river.
As for Nyamunda, the man was attacked during a fishing expedition along the same river last Saturday.
ZimParks spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the developments on Wednesday and advised people to exercise extreme caution when moving around Chipinge, Mutare and Buhera.
Mr Farawo said Nyamunda was attacked last Saturday during a fishing expedition along the Save River near Birchenough Bridge.
He said the two reptiles were killed to enable authorities to retrieve the victims’ bodies.
Chipinge Rural District Council’s representative for Ward 20, Councillor Charles Mugidho confirmed Masanzu’s deaths.
“A fellow villager, Kudakwashe Masanzu of Masimbe area was fatally attacked by a crocodile as he tried to cross Save River on Monday with game rangers in hot pursuit.
“The deceased had gone on a hunting expedition with his two friends but they were intercepted by game rangers in the Humani Range of Save Conservancy.
They then managed to escape from the rangers and dashed towards the river.
“While crossing Save River, Masanzu was attacked by a crocodile and his friends never saw him again. A community search party was organised on Tuesday and only his clothes and intestines were found at the site where he was attacked by the crocodile,” said Councillor Mugidho.
Chief Mahenye’s aide, Mr Angel Simango said wild animals are threatening food security in Chipinge South.
As both the wildlife and human populations grow and the demand for space increases, people and wild animals are increasingly interacting and competing for resources, hence the human-wildlife conflicts being witnessed in Manicaland and beyond.
During the dry season, the competition for food and water intensifies, resulting in even more conflicts with wild animals as they fight for their own survival.
For years, various wild animals have been straying into human settlements and causing havoc to people’s property and sometimes even killing people.
Most of these animals are claimed to be straying from Save Conservancy.
