MP not moved by Cecil the Lion’s killing

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE Member of the House of Assembly for Lupane West constituency, Cde Martin Khumalo, says the rest of the world could be “mourning” the killing of Cecil the Lion but people in his constituency were celebrating the lion’s death as they suspect it was part of wild animals that have been eating their livestock.

Contributing to debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Cde Khumalo said it was alarming the way the world was moved by the death of a “mere” lion.

He said it was disheartening that animal life was being given precedence over humans.

Cde Khumalo said the death of the lion had come as a relief to many people from his area as no livestock had been lost since the death of Cecil.

“For your information, the people in Hwange and Lupane where I come from are celebrating the death of Cecil because over that time, no killings have happened among their livestock. They think that this Cecil the Lion was killing their livestock,” he said.

When news of Cecil’s death broke, animal activists, mostly from Europe and the United States, wasted no time in signing an online petition calling for the protection of lions in the country.

Cecil’s killing has seen the US animal rights activists raising over $500,000 for the protection of lions in the country.

Cde Khumalo said instead of raising money for animals, the world should work towards compensating families who lost their livestock to wild animals.

He said animals such as lions, hyenas and elephants have caused pain to the people of Matabeleland North, but no one was taking notice.

“I heard that $500,000 has been raised by the Western countries to support lions following the death of Cecil the Lion. When you look at the funds that have been raised towards Cecil, the people in Matabeleland, particularly those in Lupane, Hwange and Binga where you come from Mr Speaker, have lost thousands of cattle because of elephants and hyenas.

“I feel ashamed to refund this lion without refunding the people of Matabeleland, the thousands of livestock that they lost probably through this lion,” said Cde Khumalo.

Cecil was killed by an American dentist-cum-hunter, Walter Palmer, in early July causing outrage worldwide.

So far four people have been arrested following the killing of two lions near Hwange National Park.