Gibson Mhaka
A village in Zaka is under some form of curfew as night-time movement has been restricted with shops and bottle stores in the area now closing early as people rush home in fear of hyenas which are wreaking havoc in the area.
The movement restrictions follow a severe attack of a family from Mapfumo Village under Bota Communal lands by the marauding animals as they were trying to stop them from attacking their livestock.
Robert Maroyi was mauled on the face and head while his wife Muchanyara Munodya was mauled on the hands and lost both palms and their son Rwatinga Maroyi also sustained injuries on his face and hands.
Sadly all the three were left in a situation where they cannot feed themselves.
The hyenas are reportedly wreaking havoc in the area preying on villagers’ livestock. Villagers have already lost goats, donkeys and cattle to the hyenas.
The situation has seen the village literally going under lockdown with tight night-time movement restrictions.
In a telephone interview with B-Metro, a villager from the area Nyasha Mupanga said the hyenas had since seized control of the area with villagers being warned by traditional leaders to stay watchful at all times and to avoid night movements.
“The hyenas are posing a threat to both people and animals.
They have literally seized control of our village.
The problem became worse after a couple and their child were attacked by the marauding animals.
People’s movement has also been restricted,” said Mupanga.
Most children from the area have also reportedly stopped going to school.
Another villager Sam Museve who lost a cow to the marauding animals said shops and bottle stores in the area were also now closing early as people rushed home in fear of the vicious and marauding animals.
“So terrible is the situation that the people have since stopped walking at night with shops and bottle stores in the area now closing early as people rush home in fear of these hyenas which are even coming to people’s homes.
The fact that these hyenas have developed a taste for human flesh makes them more aggressive,” said Museve.
He said the vicious and marauding animals were also attacking people together with their cattle, goats, donkeys and dogs during the day.
“Our problem was reported to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) and the police and if the situation is not resolved quickly, we are concerned that we will lose even more lives and livestock,” added Museve.
In an interview with our sister paper The Herald, Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said their team was on the ground to track the hyenas which mauled Maroyi, his wife and son.
