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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
A LONE buffalo went on a rampage, goring a woman to death and seriously injuring three others on different occasions in Lubimbi area of Binga last week.
The incident has triggered widespread panic in Binga South, with police warning that there was a herd of dangerous buffaloes on the loose.
This was the fourth fatality caused by a wild animal in game-rich Matabeleland North in about a month.
A 70-year-old man from Lubimbi, under Chief Kavula was killed last week, also by a buffalo while out in the fields with his wife.
Villagers in the area told Chronicle that the lone buffalo, suspected to be the one that killed the old man was given a chase by a group of young boys in the village on Tuesday last week.
That provoked its attacks on people.
Last week, a man was killed by an elephant in Victoria Falls and a few weeks earlier, another man was attacked and injured by a buffalo in Victoria Falls town centre.
A boy was also killed by a lion a few weeks ago while walking to school in Dete.
“The buffalo was seen on Tuesday afternoom after it had attacked and killed an old man in the area. It was chased away by young boys in the village and we thought it had gone,” said a villager who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“It kept on milling around the village and charged at every human being it came across.”
She said on Wednesday the buffalo attacked and injured a woman, who was rescued by villagers and taken to Lubimbi Hospital.
“The woman was coming from a nearby borehole and carrying a bucket of water on her head. The buffalo attacked her and she fell to the ground screaming for help. She was rescued by neighbours and taken to the hospital.
“On the same day, the buffalo attacked three women who were walking to their homesteads. One of the women died on admission to hospital and the other two were admitted after sustaining serious injuries,” said the villager.
She said a report was made to the police. Villagers are living in fear of the raging animal, which is yet to be captured by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). They are afraid it could continue its reign of terror.
“The buffalo attacks people even during the day and villagers are now forced to stay indoors because they are afraid of the animal,” she said.
ZimParks spokesperson, Caroline Washaya-Moyo and the Matabeleland North police spokesperson could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Officer commanding Lupane District Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, however, confirmed that he had received reports that buffaloes were seen in Jotsholo, although no casualties had been recorded. Lubimbi where the two latest deaths occurred, is not in his area of jurisdiction, but it is close to Jotsholo where he said the buffaloes were sighted.
He urged villagers to report early when they see dangerous animals and avoid provoking them.
“Most of these villages used to be game areas and wild animals keep coming back. Buffaloes usually attack people when they are provoked. I therefore encourage communities to report the presence of dangerous animals to either the nearest police station or parks offices to avoid loss of life. They must also avoid travelling at night.
“I would also like to encourage Parks and Wildlife officials to closely monitor wild animals and take necessary steps to keep the villagers safe.”
Wild animals, mostly elephants, lions and buffaloes have wreaked havoc by killing people, destroying property and crops in some parts of Matabeleland North Province.
Online Reporter