The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife (Zimparks) has resorted to shooting, poisoning, and caging marauding baboons in Redcliff, Midlands Province.
The primates have been destroying gardens, breaking into homes, and stealing food from residents in this small town located near Kwekwe.
Zimparks rangers began eliminating the baboons last week on Wednesday, and have already killed or caged several of the animals.
In an interview with <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/zim-parks-shoot-poison-cage-baboons-in-redcliff/">The Mirror</a> on the sidelines of a Livetouch dust emissions stakeholders meeting last Wednesday, Redcliff Municipality mayor Vincent Shangwa Masiiwa said that after engaging with the council to address the baboon problem, Zimparks has introduced three measures to deal with the situation: shooting the baboons, poisoning the baboons, and caging the baboons. He said:
<blockquote>
We engaged Parks and Wildlife and they started by raising awareness in the community about the measures they are about to take to control the baboons.
They have three measures in place which are shooting, poisoning and luring the baboons into their cages.
Community is being warned not to touch or consume the dead baboons because they are poisonous.
</blockquote>
However, Zimparks’ policy to eliminate the baboons through methods like shooting and poisoning has received mixed responses from the Redcliff community.
While some residents welcome the measures to address the baboon problem, others have raised concerns about the ethics and sustainability of the wildlife authority’s approach. Added Masiiwa:
<blockquote>
It quiet a tricky situation because some traditionalists are against the idea of shooting and poisoning the baboons they are saying it’s a taboo whilst others have embraced the idea.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimparks in Zimbabwe is dealing with baboons causing trouble in Redcliff by shooting, poisoning, and caging them. The baboons are destroying gardens and stealing food. Redcliff Municipality mayor Vincent Shangwa Masiiwa says Zimparks is using three methods to control the baboons: shooting, poisoning, and luring into cages. Some people support this, but others are worried about the ethics of killing the animals. It's a tricky situation with different opinions in the community. Residents are warned not to touch or eat dead baboons because they are toxic.

Shooting, Poisoning, And Caging: Zimparks' Response To Redcliff's Baboon Problem

Residents of Chisuma village in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province, are living in fear due to the increasing menace of marauding troops of baboons.
Once a rare sight in the area, baboons have now become a constant nuisance, wreaking havoc on homes, gardens, and livestock within the village.
Speaking to <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/living-in-fear-hwange-village-under-siege-by-marauding-baboons/">VicFallsLive</a>, Sikhanyiso Moyo, a community representative, expressed the villagers’ concerns, stating that the baboons have been killing chickens and goats. She said:
<blockquote>
We have a huge problem with baboons. They destroy our vegetables, attack our homes, and kill our chickens and goats. It’s like they have no season, they come anytime and cause havoc.
</blockquote>
Eneles Moyo, another Chisuma village resident, described an even more distressing aspect of the baboon attacks, saying the primates beat up children and throw stones at them when they try to chase them away. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
We can’t even plant crops without them digging up the seeds. They prey on our chickens and goats, leaving us with nothing.
It’s been years, but with the drought, it’s gotten worse. They even beat and throw rocks at our children when they try to chase them away.
We leave our homes to safeguard our crops, but they still find ways to destroy them. They even break into our homes, destroying our thatch and property.
We need help now, not tomorrow. Our children are being beaten, our livestock is being killed, and our homes are being destroyed. We can’t wait any longer.
</blockquote>
The Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, currently under review, aims to address human-wildlife conflict, among other issues.
The Bill provides for the establishment of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund to provide compensation for crop destruction and livestock loss, as well as the administration of the fund at the district level.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Baboons are causing trouble for people in a village in Hwange, Zimbabwe. They destroy homes, gardens, and kill animals. The villagers are scared and want help. The baboons even hurt children by throwing stones at them. The government is working on a law to help with this problem. The law will provide compensation for crops and animals damaged by wildlife. The villagers hope this law will help them deal with the baboons.

Marauding Baboons Terrorise Hwange Villagers

An octogenarian farmer (81) from Headlands, who accidentally shot and killed his 46-year-old biological son while chasing a troop of baboons that had invaded his maize field, has been charged with culpable homicide.
Culpable homicide refers to the unlawful act of causing the death of another person due to negligence or recklessness.
Any person who negligently causes the death of another person, either failing to realize that death may result from their conduct or realizing the risk but failing to guard against it, can be charged with culpable homicide.
Furthermore, if an accused person was defending themselves or someone else against an unlawful attack and did something essential to the crime (such as causing harm), they may still be guilty of culpable homicide if the requirements for self-defence are met, except that the means used to avert the attack were unreasonable in the circumstances.
As reported by <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/dad-mistakes-son-for-baboon-fatally-shoots-him/">The Manica Post</a>, the now late Innocent Nyakurerwa was chasing a troop of baboons that had invaded their maize field when he was shot dead by his father, Isaac Nyakurerwa of Plot 20A, Fairfield Farm in Headlands.
The acting spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Manicaland province, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, said as Innocent was chasing the baboons, his father was not aware of his presence and using a registered Winchester rifle, he fired a single shot that hit his son on the chin and killed him on the spot.
Nyakurerwa allegedly spotted his now-deceased son’s shadow and mistook it for a baboon and only realised the fatal mistake when he screamed for help.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said they had initially charged Nyakurerwa with murder as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23.
However, after vetting the docket presented to them last week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) at Rusape Magistrates’ Courts directed the police to charge Nyakurerwa with culpable homicide.
The request for remand form submitted to the prosecution by police reads in part:
<blockquote>
On March 26, 2024, at Plot 20A, Fairfield 20 Farm in Headlands, the accused person was chasing some baboons which were approaching his maize field. He fired a shot with his rifle, a Winchester 22 to the mountain where the baboons were and he accidentally shot his biological son, Innocent Nyakurerwa, aged 46 on the chin. Innocent died on the spot. The rifle and spent cartridge were recovered from the scene.
</blockquote>
Nyakurerwa has since been released from custody waiting to be charged with culpable homicide and is expected to appear in court soon.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

New Details Emerge On Octogenarian Farmer Who Mistook His Son For A Baboon And Fatally Shot Him

Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Evelyn Ndlovu, said that she was forced to vacate her house in Gwanda town because of marauding troops of baboons.
As reported by the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200023279/briefs-minister-flees-baboons-menace">Southern Eye</a>, Ndlovu said baboons are giving residents of Gwanda sleepless nights as they are getting into people’s houses in search of food and water.
She implored the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to address the challenge. Said Ndlovu:
<blockquote>
Wild animals are destroying people’s crops, killing people and cattle which is not a good thing…
This needs to be addressed because we have had baboons coming into the homesteads in Gwanda.
l myself left my house in Gwanda because l cannot stay there due to the fact that there is no peace.
Winter crops have been destroyed and l think electric fences should be put up to keep the wild animals away.
</blockquote>
In November 2023, a full-grown male baboon mauled an 18-month-old baby as it tried to drag him away into a bush in West Nicholson in Gwanda District.
The mother of the child, Petronella Moyo (22), ran after the baboon that had snatched her child from a room, forcing it to dump him and flee.
The animal sank its teeth into the baby twice and left him badly wounded after dragging him on the ground for about 50 metres.
The boy was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he received treatment and was vaccinated against rabies.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Marauding Baboons Force Minister To Vacate Home

A full-grown male baboon mauled an 18-month-old baby as it tried to drag him away into a bush in West Nicholson in Gwanda District on Thursday last week.
The mother of the child, Petronella Moyo (22), ran after the baboon that had snatched her child from a room, forcing it to dump him and flee.
The animal sank its teeth into the baby twice and left him badly wounded after dragging him on the ground for about 50 metres.
The boy is admitted to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he is receiving treatment and has been vaccinated against rabies.
Moyo told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/woman-rescues-baby-from-jaws-of-a-baboon/">Chronicle</a> that she was in her bedroom and the child was in another room when she suddenly heard him screaming. She said:
<blockquote>
Some baboons came to our area in the morning and the neighbours made some efforts to chase them away. I was in my bedroom and my son was in the sitting room.
I heard my son crying and when I checked on him I saw a baboon holding him by the leg and fleeing.
Without thinking I pursued the baboon and at the same time I was screaming to scare it. It was dragging my son on the ground along the way and he was crying and screaming in pain.
As I closed in, after a distance of about 50 metres the baboon dropped my son on the ground and it fled.
My son was seriously injured as the baboon bit him twice and he also sustained bruises from being dragged on the ground.
The animal was very violent. I feared that it would tear my child into pieces. However, I was determined to save him at all costs.
He got stitches to bring together open wounds and nurses cleaned up the injuries every day and dressed them.
His condition has greatly improved and he is no longer in great pain.
</blockquote>
A resident from Gwanda Town said that it no longer feels safe to leave her children unattended while playing after a baboon once snatched her baby while he was playing and threw her down shortly afterwards.
Baboons reportedly started flocking to the area around 2007 and have since become a menace.
Residents said that the wild animals are very calculative and constantly display traits of humans such as opening doors and taps and leaving water running.
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1000px"><img alt="" decoding="async" height="750" loading="lazy" src="https://www.zimlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/baboon-victim-02.jpg" width="1000"/><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Petronella Moyo with the baby who was saved from baboon at Gwanda Provincial Hospital (VOA PHOTO/Albert Ncube)</figcaption></figure>
They said they have failed to run income-generating projects such as orchards, poultry and gardens as baboons eat the produce.
The baboons are also causing havoc at Gwanda Provincial Hospital, St Christopher’s Primary School, Mount Cazalet Primary School and Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, visited Moyo and Gwanda Provincial Hospital where she urged the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) to deal with the baboons.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Baboon Mauls 18-month-old Baby In Gwanda

A 29-year-old man from Nyanga claims that “baboons” are visiting his family demanding the money he owes a local traditional healer.
Innocent Ndaruza told <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/baboons-sent-to-collect-debt/">The Manica Post</a> that the local traditional healer, Sekuru Chihwa “helped” his wife to conceive.
He said his wife who had struggled to conceive fell pregnant soon after they sought the services of Sekuru Chihwa.
Ndaruza claimed that baboons now frequent his homestead. He said while sleeping, he and his wife hear voices singing outside, shouting that he needed to pay what he owed Sekuru Chihwa. He said:
<blockquote>
My father has two sons and we both do not have children. I ended up marrying a second wife, thinking that my first wife could not conceive. She went through so many miscarriages.
When I decided to consult Sekuru Chihwa, my brother refused to do so citing his religious beliefs.
Sekuru Chihwa told me that the person who was causing our problems would fall ill when my wife conceived. This came to pass as my father fell ill as soon as my wife became pregnant; he is still bedridden as we speak.
Sekuru Chihwa charged me US$150 for his services. I was supposed to pay it over two months. However, I failed to do so because I lost my job a month after consulting Sekuru Chihwa.
Months later when I raised the money, I went back to Sekuru Chihwa and tried to reason with him to accept my payment, but he refused, arguing that the time that his ancestors had given me had lapsed.
Sekuru Chihwa told me that I would have frequent baboon visits at my homestead. At times, one baboon comes but at times, it will be the whole troop.
These unusual visitors sit in my yard and demand the money I owe Sekuru Chihwa. When it happened for the first time, I rushed to Sekuru Chihwa with US$200, but he refused to accept it.
The baboons come to my homestead once a week in broad daylight and at night we hear voices of people singing that I should pay what I owe them.
I do not know how far Sekuru Chihwa will take this. I fear that my wife or the child she is carrying might not make it because the baboons and voices claim that they will take back what belongs to them, which in this case is the pregnancy.
</blockquote>
Ndaruza’s neighbour and uncle, Jack Ndaruza, claimed they also witnessed the baboon visits. He said:
<blockquote>
What is happening at my nephew’s homestead is stranger than fiction. If you have not witnessed it, you will think that it is a lie.
I saw one of the baboons with my own two eyes. They speak and it is frightening as I have never seen anything like this before.
</blockquote>
However, Sekuru Chihwa denied sending the baboons during an interview with The Manica Post.
He also denied orchestrating the mysterious things that were taking place at the Ndaruza homestead, saying it was the work of his ancestors. He said:
<blockquote>
I am only being used by my ancestral spirits. They are the ones who helped his wife to conceive.
They performed a “go back to sender” to the person who was behind the family’s barrenness.
It is true that this man approached me and we helped him. I told him to pay in two months, but he failed. He came back five months later with the money. Maybe he doubted my powers.
I never asked him to pay consultation fees when he visited me for my services. I felt his pain, but he later reneged on his promise to settle what I charged him for the services.
</blockquote>
He said the US$150 that Ndaruza owed him had accrued US$300 interest.
Sekuru Chihwa told the publication that he had decided to forgive Ndaruza and would take only the US$150 that he had charged him. He said:
<blockquote>
I am doing this because you have approached me on his behalf, otherwise, my ancestors were really angry with him for failing to honour our agreement.
If you are still in touch with him, tell him that the money should be paid before the end of September. If he fails to do so, then it will be a lost cause.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Nyanga Man Alleges Harassment By Baboons "Sent" By Traditional Healer

Baboons are giving people in Hwange and Binga Districts a torrid time as they break into homes through windows and rooftops while searching for food.
The baboons also attack women and children and snatch their satchels.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) is struggling to curb the baboon menace as traditional methods to stop them are proving ineffective.
Speaking during an interview with <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/index.php/2022/10/16/baboons-wreak-havoc-in-drought-prone-binga-hwange/">VicFallsLive</a>, Zimparks Matabeleland North regional manager Samson Chibaya said they have embarked on an exercise to capture the baboons but it is proving to be difficult. He said:
<blockquote>
Baboons are a perennial nuisance in Hwange urban and other areas such as Binga and Victoria Falls.
They cause damage in hotels, lodges and homes and their behaviour includes the destruction of property and taking food from kitchens, off the buffets and tables.
Capture and translocation are no longer effective because the baboons no longer come to the baits.
Shooting is also ineffective as the baboons are so elusive and flee once they see armed people in uniform.
They are (also) territorial, once a troop is wiped out another different one quickly moves in within a week or two.
</blockquote>
Chibaya attributed the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in urban areas such as Hwange to poor refuse disposal and climate change. He said:
<blockquote>
Poor solid waste management is another factor as baboons are attracted to leftover food and edible waste.
Most raids in residential areas happen where houses are not manned, and sometimes in the presence of children and women.
Ecologically, most of the areas around towns have no food and fruits for baboons, hence (they) rely on waste from residential areas.
The problem worsens during the hot and dry season when food is less available.
</blockquote>
Hwange town is surrounded by areas with a high population of wild animals such as the Hwange Colliery Concession, private farms, state land and protected areas under Zimparks and this means that animals such as baboons stray into residential areas, Chibaya added.

Baboons Wreak Havoc In Drought-prone Binga, Hwange

Marauding herds of elephants have reportedly imposed a unique night curfew in Victoria Falls city centre as they roam the streets every night, forcing residents to stay indoors.
Residents of the nearby Low Density suburb and Rainbow Flats are forced to retreat indoors as early as 7 PM as the presence of jumbos on the streets has become common.
Perimeter fences and pre-cast walls have been demolished, gardens and fruit trees destroyed as the elephants hunt for food.
So far there has been no attack on humans although some bulls have reportedly charged at some residents.
Speaking to Chronicle, Douglas Musiringofa who lives in Dale Crescent in Low Density said the elephants are permanent night visitors. He said:
<blockquote>
It is now dangerous to walk along Dale Crescent at night as elephants from a bush near Baobab Primary School use this road.
</blockquote>
Not only are elephants a menace to Victoria Falls residents, but baboons during the day and hippopotamuses at night have become an environmental hazard.
Another resident Enoch Dzambo who lives along Hobson Drive believes hippos are more dangerous than elephants. He said:
<blockquote>
Besides elephants, we have two hippos that also come every night and leave in the morning.
They will be browsing on the lawn outside and I think they pose more danger than elephants.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has reported that most human-wildlife conflict deaths are caused by hippos, elephants, crocodiles and lions.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/jumbos-enforce-victoria-falls-curfew/">Chronicle</a></h4>

Elephants 'Impose' Early Curfew In Victoria Falls

Baboons are terrorising businesses, residents and villagers in Victoria Falls by breaking into shops to steal foodstuffs and ambushing people and snatching food from them as well as “cleaning” maize fields.
A few days ago a baboon caused a commotion when it entered OK Supermarket and stole a packet of chips.
Despite frantic efforts to scare it away, the baboon tried to go in through the front door and later returned to enter through the roof and jumped into the shop through the ceiling.
The animals’ belligerent attitude has been attributed to hunger as they cannot find fast-food leftovers in rubbish bins.
Trash cans are always empty because of a lack of tourism activity and restricted operation of restaurants due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Speaking to Chronicle on condition of anonymity, some residents said the baboons had turned Victoria Falls into a “war zone”. An employee at one of the shops said:
<blockquote>We clean baboon poo in the office almost every day. I think they had mastered the lockdown business hours and would enter the shops once people knock off.
Lately, they have been breaking into shops even in the presence of people. They broke two window panes into our shop and have been sneaking inside and mess around before entering the ceiling.
Sometimes we see them peeping inside wanting to come in.</blockquote>
The Chronicle reported a source saying it is now risky to move around carrying food as the baboons can differentiate plastic bags from food outlets from those from other shops. Said the source:
<blockquote>Some now camp in front of Chicken Inn or OK shops and snatch whatever they see people carrying. One baboon recently caused a stir when it entered the OK shop, went on top of a butchery fridge before jumping onto a nearby shelf where it snatched a packet of chips and fled.
On another day they charged at a man who had just bought two pies and he threw them down as he fled.</blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has been urged to deal with the baboon menace as there are fears that the primates will disrupt tourism in the city.
Chief Whange said some villagers in Kasibo are staring hunger after their maize crops were eaten by marauding baboons.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/victoria-falls-baboons-wreak-havoc/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Baboons Raid Supermarkets In Victoria Falls

Baboons are causing a reign of terror and discomfort to expectant mothers at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Binga">Binga</a> General Hospital, The Standard reports. The baboons are vandalising property and stealing food and causing sleepless nights as they hunt for food.
Binga residents have appealed for help from <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Parks_%26_Wildlife_Management_Authority">Zimparks</a> as they say the expectant mothers are in trouble with the animals. Said one Binga District Residents Association (BIDRA) member:
<blockquote>They are stealing food from expecting mothers, vandalising property and causing a nuisance.
We appeal to ZimParks to mount a trap cages like they did last year to deal with the troublesome animals</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the other part of Binga was hit by flash floods and villagers lost their property, homes and food and are relying on donations to survive.
More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2020/02/23/baboons-terrorise-patients/">The Standard</a>

Baboons Terrorising Patients At Binga General Hospital

The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Perrance Shiri reportedly called opposition MD supporters baboons and monkeys in Parliament on Wednesday.
Shiri’s outburst came after Harare West MP, Joanna Mamombe (MDC Alliance) had asked him why the country continues to have food shortages if the government spent so much money on acquiring grain.
Mamombe was referring to the US$3 billion which Shiri said was spent by the government on buying grain from farmers such as wheat, soya etc, and some of the money being used to pay for Presidential Input Scheme, utilities such as electricity.
Commenting on Shiri’s remarks, former spokesperson of the Robert Mugabe-linked National Patriotic Front, Jealousy Mawarire wrote on Twitter:
<blockquote>Characters like Perence Shiri should never have been made ministers. They need proper rehabilitation from a sordid past before anyone puts them near public office. For the avoidance of sounding exactly like him, I will not ask who is closer to a monkey, the accuser or his targets?</blockquote>

Minister Calls MDC MPs Baboons And Monkeys - Report

Residents of Kariba town are up in arms with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS) over a baboon menace that has continued unabated.
The residents have threatened to approach the Parliament to register their complaints.
In an interview with Newsday, human rights activist John Chirinda of Patsaka Trust said:
<blockquote>We want to be informed of what [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority] Zimparks has done to reduce baboons population including efforts by Municipality of Kariba.
Who is accountable to damage of properties, homes, windows and doors, where women and children are being terrorised? There is a need to evaluate wildlife damage to the tourism sector.</blockquote>
Kariba council spokesperson Gabriel Maziofa had this to say:
<blockquote>Zimparks should use 0,22 firearms in the township which has a small range, but these are hardly available.
Furthermore, there are legal challenges against the use of firearms in human settlements resulting in baboons overrunning the settlements.
This has resulted in stiff competition for food that has seen them break into homes, stealing from people around the townships.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/03/residents-plot-to-petition-parly-over-baboon-menace/">Newsday</a></h4>

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