A troop of stray baboons has descended on Dulibadzimu suburb in Beit Bridge, where it is reportedly terrorizing residents.

Residents who spoke to Mirror said the baboons were destroying orchards and ransacking kitchens in search of food. “We are facing a serious problem of baboons destroying our orchards and gardens. At one time, one of the baboons entered my kitchen in search food and went away with a loaf of bread,” said Ms Morine Mbedzi of Dulibadzimu.

Another resident, Mr Jameson Muleya, said: “These animals are causing mayhem. Last week they arrived at my neighbour’s house, where they started rummaging for food. The owner of the house then fled and alerted other residents. We then teamed up and chased them away with the assistance of dogs.”

Ms Maria Chauke, whose house was also “raided” by a huge male baboon, said: “I was actually busy with my household chores when all of a sudden a big baboon jumped onto the rooftop of my house and, in the process, it damaged one of the roofing sheets. We are appealing to the parks and wildlife management authorities to chip in and assist us by culling these troublesome baboons as they continue to terrorize us,” Chauke said.

Cases of stray baboons descending on houses in Dulibadzimu in the border town are not new. Recently, a Beit Bridge man stunned the local community when he slaughtered a baboon before eating its raw meat in view of the public. The man, believed to be in his early 40s, spotted the baboon in Dulibadzimu after it had strayed into a house in Dulibadzimu.