Stray buffalo attacks two

Whinsley Masara Bulawayo Bureau
Two people cheated death following separate attacks by a lone buffalo in Tsholotsho.

Khasa Moyo of Janiza Village, under Chief Mathupula, was attacked by the solitary buffalo on Sunday morning on her way to church.

A Form Two pupil, Muziwakhe Moyo, of the same area, was also attacked by the same buffalo on Monday evening while he was looking for cattle in the bush.

The two sustained injuries on the hands with Muziwakhe also having been injured on the mouth. Both of them received sutures on deep cuts and are recovering at Kapane Clinic.

Villagers suspected the buffalo strayed from the Hwange National Park.

Tsholotsho Campfire’s Natural Resources assistant executive officer, Mr Mthokozisi Dlodlo said a team had been deployed to the ground on Sunday and had managed to put down the buffalo on Tuesday morning.

“We received a report of a solitary buffalo which attacked a villager on Sunday. We immediately deployed a team of game rangers to conduct a patrol and shoot it before it injured more or even killed people.”

“After an intense search they found it and killed it. We had no option as a solitary buffalo is usually dangerous and was bound to cause more human-wildlife conflict in the community,” said Mr Dlodlo.

Tsholotsho Rural District Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Themba Moyo said the incidents happened in ward 3, where two buffaloes have been shot this year to reduce human-wildlife conflict.