12 Nov 2019

Residents of Tshimoyapula, about 30 kilometres north of Serowe, are counting their losses after lions and hyenas attacked their livestock.

The villagers raised their concerns during a consultative meeting with a committee from the Office of the President on November 11.

They told the committee that most of their cattle, donkeys and goats had been killed by lions and black spotted hyenas, which had been roaming near the village this year.

  They said they were living in fear of the predators, which had been attacking their livestock, thus impoverishing them.

Residents said they were now living in fear of not only losing their livestock altogether, but being attacked by hyenas.

They said goats, which were given to some people through the LIMID programme, had been wiped out by the predators. 

The residents stated that their area was prone to wild animals, and during this time of the year, wild animals come closer to the village looking for water and food. 

Residents also told the committee that the elephant population in their area had been increasing as the jumbos encroached into cattle posts looking for water and pasture.

Wild officers, who attended the meeting, noted that they had tried to keep the elephants away, but had failed due to lack of resources. 

They said their mandate was to see communities benefiting from the animals, hence they encouraged communities to see the presence of wild animals as opportunities for infrastructural development, including building of clinics and roads.

The officers further appealed to farmers to report cases of livestock which had been killed by predators. 

On other issues, the residents decried the shortage of potable water in the village,  which they said was halting developments.

Tshimoyapula kgosi, Mr Lenkagetse Keipheditse indicated that farmers, who water their livestock at stand pipes were partially responsible for the water shortage, urging farmers to keep their livestock at cattle posts.

He called for the village to be declared a Remote Area to benefit from the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP), as most of the residents were the Basarwa tribe, who were sustained through government programmes.

Kgosi Keipheditse said most of families had been affected by drought, while some did not have shelter, food and were unemployed.

He said most live as extended families of 15 to 25 people, adding that people with disabilities were also not catered for. ends