admin“Our livestock, especially donkeys and calves are attacked by leopards while grazing in the bush and that is really an issue of grave concern to us. Last week, I lost three calves and I suspect they were attacked by leopards,” said Mr Peter Mbedzi.
Another villager, Mr Allan Chauke, said he also recently lost three donkeys and four calves to leopards.
“We are appealing to relevant authorities to address this problem as a matter of urgency as we continue to lose our livestock. We informed the local safari operator, but it looks like he is reluctant to act,” he said.
Clr Enock Ndou, a local councillor, confirmed the latest development.
“The problem of leopards was brought to my attention and I have since compiled a report which I will table before the full council meeting. I have since informed our Campfire department about the issue,” he said.
Clr Ndou also expressed concern over lack of transport and appealed to bus operators to service the Beitbridge-Tshikwalakwala route.
“We are facing a serious problem of transport to travel between Beitbridge and Tshikwalakwala and villagers are relying on one kombi, which plies the route once a week,” he said.
Clr Ndou said some unscrupulous private transporters were now capitalising on the problem by charging exorbitant fares.
A single trip from Tshikwalakwala to Beitbridge costs R150 when one is using private transport while buses used to charge R60 for the same distance.
“We are appealing to Government to bring back Zupco buses which used to ply the route and charge affordable fares and again we also urge other bus companies to chip in as the fares charged by owners of private vehicles are beyond the reach of many people,” Clr Ndou said.
Bus operators are shunning the Beitbridge-Tshikwalakwala route citing bad roads. Most of the roads linking the area and Beitbridge town were damaged by heavy rains forcing transporters to pull out of the route. Some of the bridges which were destroyed by Cyclone Eline-induced floods in 2000 have not been repaired.
Villagers in the area are also facing a problem of communication and the locals rely on South African mobile networks, which are often more unreliable compared to the local ones.
“We are appealing to local mobile network providers to install boosters in our area to improve communication. It is a big challenge to contact an ambulance from Beitbridge in the event of disaster as we rely on foreign networks, which are quite expensive and unreliable in terms of coverage,” said Mr John Kibi of Tshikwalakwala.
Mrs Maria Singo said they also could not access local radio stations.
“We stay in the most remote part of the district where we cannot even access local news. We also want to know what is happening around the country. We rely on South African radio stations and we are appealing to Government to address the issue and I feel that we are being short-changed in an independent Zimbabwe,” she said.
During his recent visit to Beitbridge, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity, Mr George Charamba expressed concern over poor Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio transmission in Beitbridge District.
Mr Charamba said the quality of ZBC radio transmission in Beitbridge District was below standard and urged Transmedia Corporation to promptly address the problem. Transmedia Corporation is responsible for providing signals in 24 transmission areas across the country.
Transmedia Corporation installed radio transmitters in Beitbridge in April 2010 and residents are now accessing Radio Zimbabwe and Power FM radio stations. Some parts of the district are yet to receive radio signals.
Online Reporter