Brilliant Mukaro
MIRROR REPORTER

BUHERA – Residents in ward 28, 22 and 32 of Buhera district are living in fear of two Buffaloes that have strayed from Save Valley Conservancy into their area on February 22.
There are even suggestions that schools in the suspected areas be closed until the buffaloes are relocated.
Buhera District Development Coordinator Freeman Mavhiza confirmed reports of the buffaloes and said the matter has since been raised with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife (ZimParks).
The male and female buffalo were first spotted in Ward 28 (Mukonya area) on March 8 and then in Ward 22 (Chiwurwi area) on March 10.

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told The Mirror that the Zimparks team is on the ground to relocate the buffaloes but there is no progress yet.

He warned people not to walk during the night and to avoid visiting rivers since buffaloes often frequent such areas in search of water.

He added that people must avoid walking during the night and must avoid thickets and move in groups.
Buhera Residents Network Trust director Leonard Mabasa said he was worried about Zimparks’s slow response to distress calls on dangerous animals.
There are reports that the buffaloes were seen in ward 32 (Matsvai area) in Chiwurwi area and ZimParks have begun tracking the animals.
Ward 22 councillor Gibson Gotora said wildlife- human conflict is not new in Buhera and one of the things they fear is the spread of foot and mouth disease from the buffaloes which are carriers.
Mabasa said buffaloes can be aggressive and dangerous hence the need for Zimparks to respond swiftly. He called on the closure of schools until the animals are taken out of the area.
He said Zimparks should be well resourced to enhance mobility and shorten reaction time and also use drones to track the animals.
“The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) should be established in Buhera. Masvingo and Manicaland provinces should work hand in glove in the fight to end human wildlife conflict,” said Mabasa.