News / Local
Hippovalley villagers live in fear after police launched anti-poaching patrols
04 Apr 2016 at 12:37hrs | Views
People in Hippovalley Chiredzi are reportedly living in untold fear, as police have launched a terrible anti-poaching campaign that can be equaled to a curfew in a war time situation.
Sources from the area said following the wave of drought that is ravaging the country, many youth in Chiredzi and the surrounding districts have flocked into the estate searching for greener pastures, only to find that the estate is actually shedding off workers than it is hiring.
"Now caught between a rock and a hard place, many thus resort to poaching fish and game in the nearby Muteri conservancy for a living," said highly placed source.
"This hasn't been going on well with the management at Hippovalley which has tried many tricks such as bringing culprits before the courts where they were jailed fined or released, the estate has now since hired ZRP support unit to deal with the poachers."
"Hakuite mudhara. Tavakurohwa chero pasina yawaita, haa maone", said one poacher who requested unanimity. "It is not workable, we are being beaten even without committing any crime."
On a good day, one poacher can bring out between 80 to 100 fish or 2 to 3 kg fish with a market value of over $200 with costs.
It is said on Sunday police visited section 19 and compounds that surround it and woke people up searching for fish and fish nets, and when they found none they started beating women forcing them to disclose anybody once associated with poaching.
"This is the third time they have visited this place. The last time they came here they forced two women to eat raw fish, " narrated one victim.
Another boy who sprained an arm muscle after being forced to do a hundred push ups swore that he was punished for no reason at all.
He was forced to admit the crime under pressure and later fined $10 that he said was never receipted. He failed to raise the $5 hospital fees to get his arm treated, but says that he is too disadvantaged to complain against the police.
"No one has any idea how to bring this to an end for fear of victimisation, nevertheless whatever is happening is clearly unlawful. You can not be found out of doors any time during the night and fail to account for it then not receive a thorough beating for it," said the source.
Sources from the area said following the wave of drought that is ravaging the country, many youth in Chiredzi and the surrounding districts have flocked into the estate searching for greener pastures, only to find that the estate is actually shedding off workers than it is hiring.
"Now caught between a rock and a hard place, many thus resort to poaching fish and game in the nearby Muteri conservancy for a living," said highly placed source.
"This hasn't been going on well with the management at Hippovalley which has tried many tricks such as bringing culprits before the courts where they were jailed fined or released, the estate has now since hired ZRP support unit to deal with the poachers."
"Hakuite mudhara. Tavakurohwa chero pasina yawaita, haa maone", said one poacher who requested unanimity. "It is not workable, we are being beaten even without committing any crime."
On a good day, one poacher can bring out between 80 to 100 fish or 2 to 3 kg fish with a market value of over $200 with costs.
"This is the third time they have visited this place. The last time they came here they forced two women to eat raw fish, " narrated one victim.
Another boy who sprained an arm muscle after being forced to do a hundred push ups swore that he was punished for no reason at all.
He was forced to admit the crime under pressure and later fined $10 that he said was never receipted. He failed to raise the $5 hospital fees to get his arm treated, but says that he is too disadvantaged to complain against the police.
"No one has any idea how to bring this to an end for fear of victimisation, nevertheless whatever is happening is clearly unlawful. You can not be found out of doors any time during the night and fail to account for it then not receive a thorough beating for it," said the source.
Source - Byo24News
