shloboe boe
Yolanda Mlilo, Sunday News Reporter
FOLLOWING a petition submitted by residents last year, ZimParks has launched a week-long operation where officials are camped in areas with frequent baboon visits to trap them using nets as part of efforts to address the menace that has haunted residents of Pumula South Phase 3.
The escalating presence of baboons has led to significant property damage including the destruction of roofing materials and electronic devices, causing panic among the affected residents who have called for the urgent intervention of the responsible authorities.
Residents say despite previous complaints to the local authority, the issue remains unresolved and the baboons continue to wreak havoc, pruning unripe fruits from their trees and throwing them down haphazardly after one or two bites while attacking broilers and layer chickens that some residents keep.
In their playful manner, the baboons also twist satellite dishes mounted on roofs while mimicking drivers adding extra costs of fixing them on the residents.
In an interview with Sunday News, Ward 17 Councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo expressed relief that the ZimParks has started the seven-day removal of baboons.
“We are very happy because ZimParks has come to remove the baboons that have been troubling us after several calls by residents for them to intervene,” she said.
She further expressed the severity of the issue, as the baboons have been causing extensive damage to infrastructure.
“These baboons have been posing great harm to the residents, they have been continuously damaging roofs and a number of houses now have damaged roofs posing problems for residents especially since we are in the rainy season,” she said.
She added that residents are relieved now that ZimParks has taken a step towards the removal of the baboons in the area.
“At least we will be able to start repairing our houses as it was pointless repairing while the baboons are still there. The ZimParks is camped for a week in the area to try and remove all the baboons,” said Clr Moyo.
The presence of baboons had a devastating impact on the area, even on the environment.
“Some residents did not farm this year because they were afraid that the baboons would destroy everything like they were doing with the unripe mangoes, so now the residents are happy as they can start farming without fear,” she added.
The residents expressed gratitude to the ZimParks as they can now resume living normal lives as they were doing before the attack by baboons.
Speaking to Sunday News, Thokozani Dube, a resident, said, “We are grateful to the ZimParks for finally hearing our plea. We hope all the baboons will be removed so that we start repairing our houses and farming.”
She said the presence of baboons has led to the destruction of property in Pumula South.
“We have lost a lot due to the presence of baboons, our doors and property were greatly damaged and even our gardens have nothing. We hope we will start restoring things to how they were soon,” she added.
“For months, the community has lived in fear of the baboons, which have been damaging crops, destroying property and even attacking people but now, with the intervention of ZimParks, we can now start living normally,” said another resident.
Many women had been forced to alter their daily routines, avoiding certain areas or times of the day when the baboons were most active. Children too had been living in fear of the baboons, which had been known to attack them on their way to and from the shops, taking whatever they would have been sent to buy especially bread and fruits.
