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Conrad Mupesa Chinhoyi Bureau Correspondent
A PRIDE of stray lions has killed over 20 cattle and several goats in four farming areas in Mhangura, effectively imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew on farmers. The lions, believed to have strayed from Chenanga Game Park, have been on the prowl at night in Jechenene, Nivanna, Chipiri and Chitatu farming areas.

Although Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo could not be reached for comment, farmers said they have been battling to get compensation from Zimparks, who are the official custodians of wildlife in Zimbabwe. The farmers blamed Zimparks for failing to protect their livestock.

“I lost four cows and nothing has been done by Zimparks to compensate me. It is a painful experience. To me cattle are my wealth,” said Mr Farai Katizamhuka from Nivanna Village. Another farmer Mr Kelody Mubatapasango from Jechenene Village said he had lost five cattle since September.

“Losing five cattle is never a joke. I am a farmer and I have been robbed of my wealth. Zimparks should compensate us because they own the lions,’’ he said. The lions are said to be roaming the villages at night. One of the farmers, Mrs Tsitsi Nechaziva from Nivanna Village, confirmed having seen the big cats in the middle of the night.

To compound villagers’ woes, marauding hyenas have also killed goats and sheep, while elephants have destroyed maize fields during farming season. Meanwhile, Zimparks rangers warned the farmers against harming or killing protected animals as they will be arrested or fined. The Statutory Instrument 57 of 2012 for Parks and Wildlife dictates that if one traps or kills wild animals, a specified fee will be required from the culprit. The statutory instrument indicates that lions attract a $20 000 compensation fine each and elephants $50 000 each. A Zimparks ranger stationed at Chenanga Game Park, who requested anonymity, said it was not clear where the lions came from.

“We have had interactions with lions and other wild animals like elephants from as far as Kariba and Dande (Mashonaland Central). By nature, lions travel a lot in search of prey,” he said. He urged farmers to organise with Makonde Rural District Council to establish a Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) programme to benefit from the retains. Meanwhile, the three lions that had terrorised Gombera Ranch near Raffingora were killed by Zimparks rangers two weeks ago.