By Charlotte Musarurwa
Eight fish poachers have been killed by crocodiles at Harare’s Lake Chivero in the past two weeks while a ninth person was attacked and seriously injured yesterday.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo confirmed the attacks, saying the victims included both men and women.
‘These people did not have licences that gave them the permission to fish in the lake. In the past two weeks alone, we have had eight people attacked and killed by crocodiles and all but two bodies were recovered.
“These people included both men and women and all of them were poachers. Their colleague have not been deterred as they keep returning to the same site,” she said.
Most of the killed poachers are believed to have been residents of Porta Farm, which is along the Harare-Bulawayo road, while others are from the Norton area.
Poachers are often seen selling fresh fish along the highway and some move from door to door selling their catch.
Although Lake Chivero has many crocodiles, there is one which is believed to be behind most of the attacks.
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the authority was worried by the frequency of the attacks, adding that they were making efforts to minimise such incidents.
“We are appealing to the public countrywide to acquire their licences for fishing and hunting. If they have expired, they should have them renewed. This is the only way they can operate safely.”
Ms Washaya-Moyo said the authority had also stepped up patrols in the lake area to arrest people fishing illegally.
“If anyone breaks the set laws and regulations, we will not hesitate to arrest them.”
The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority recently froze all hunting permits for the processes of verification.
This was in the wake of allegations that people had been using forged hunting permits and documents to export trophies. The Sunday Mail
