Lions terrorise Zim villagers

Villagers in Hwange West have lost 13 herd of cattle to a pride of seven lions terrorizing the area while their crops have been destroyed by marauding elephants.

Local traditional leader, Chief Shana has since appealed for assistance from the  Parks and Wildlife Authority to ward off the wild animals.

He said rangers had  gunned down one of the seven lions but more needed to be done to avert the situation.

"The animals are menacing the whole area is gripped with fear and movement of people is now restricted for fear of being attacked," he said.

The Chief appeal to the Government to give police powers to shoot the animals.

"Parks officials live far from the villages and it takes them long to attend to our problems. If the police who live among us are allowed to shoot the animals it would be better for us," he said.

Shana a herd of elephants had destroyed crops in the Tshikandakubi area.

The destruction of the crops is a major blow to the farmers given the low rainfall recorded in the Matabeleland region in the past agricultural season.

Parks and Wildlife Authority is the only board mandated by the law to shoot problem animals a job which they sometimes allocate to hired professional hunters.