Villagers in Tshikwalakwala and surrounding areas outside Beit Bridge continue to endure the pain of losing their livestock to stray lions from the neighbouring Kruger National Park.

The ward councillor, Mr Enock Ndou, expressed concern over the development, saying the relevant Zimbabwean authorities were not making efforts to address the perennial problem. Last week, the lions killed two donkeys and four cattle while they were grazing in the bush.

“We continue to encounter the problem of stray lions from the Kruger National Park causing havoc in Tshikwalakwala and surrounding areas. This is an issue of grave concern to us, considering that this has been going for some time, with no end in sight. We are appealing to the relevant authorities to address this problem as a matter of urgency before villagers lose all their livestock,” he said.

Cattle farming is the major economic activity for people in the Beit Bridge district.

Ndou said although there were no reports of human deaths, the animals were now a posing a threat to children, particularly those travelling long distances to school. “If the problem of lions is not addressed before the local schools open, we are likely to see many children absconding from classes because they fear for their lives,” he said.

Ndou said the lions, most of which had cubs, were only found in remote parts of the village and were mainly targeting livestock.

The latest development comes hot on the heels of a similar problem encountered early this year when lions killed 10 heads of cattle and two donkeys in the neighbouring Shashane village.

Ndou said they notified the local safari operator, Three Ways Safaris, about the issue, but nothing had been done to address the problem. “We are now planning on engaging the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to assist us since the local safari operator contracted by the local authority appears not to be willing to help the affected villagers,” he said.

Last year, elephants from the same wildlife sanctuary descended on Shashane and Tshamaswiswi, where they destroyed winter crops. At Tshamaswiswi Irrigation Scheme, the animals pulled down the fence. The elephants also killed three people.