Predatory Lions Kill Five Cattle in Menyezwa Ward 14, Leaving Rural Farmer Devastated
Thembelihle Mhlanga
MENYEZWA, LUPANE — A communal farmer in Menyezwa Ward 14, under the Kusile Rural District Council (KRDC), has lost five cattle after a pride of lions attacked livestock along the banks of the Gwayi River in the early hours of August 3, highlighting the growing threat of human-wildlife conflict in Lupane District.
According to a report compiled by Ward 14 Councillor Thando Ndaba and Village Head Bekithemba Mhkandla, the lions killed five cattle belonging to local farmer Matilda Moyo. The livestock included two calves, two mature cows and one breeding bull.
The attack dealt a heavy financial blow to the household, with the breeding bull serving as the family’s main draft animal ahead of the coming farming season, while the cows were a source of milk and income.
“I woke up to terrifying growls near the riverbank where our cattle usually trek for water, but by the time we gathered the courage to investigate with torches, it was already too late,” Moyo said.
“They did not just kill animals; they took away my entire life savings. That bull was our main draft animal for the coming farming season, and the cows were our family’s only source of milk and income. We are living in constant fear because these lions are now hunting right on our doorstep.”
Councillor Ndaba described the incident as another reminder of the growing danger faced by communities living along the Gwayi River corridor, which borders wildlife habitats.
“This latest loss of five cattle in Menyezwa is a stark reminder of the vulnerability our rural farmers face every day,” he said.
“We have submitted reports to the Kusile Rural District Council and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) requesting urgent intervention. Without effective problem animal control measures and practical deterrents, we fear it is only a matter of time before human lives are also at risk.”
Lupane West MP Mxolisi Charles Sibanda has also called for assistance for the affected farmer, saying support should be considered to help replace the lost livestock and ease the financial burden on the household.
The latest incident adds to a long-running pattern of human-wildlife conflict in Menyezwa Ward 14. Situated near the Gwayi River and Sotani Volunteer Farm, the area has experienced repeated livestock losses from lions and hyenas, as well as crop damage caused by elephants.
According to local council records cited in the report, more than 37 cattle and 58 goats were killed by lions between 2023 and 2025 in the ward. The attacks reportedly occurred at homestead kraals and communal watering points along the Gwayi River.
The report further notes that in August 2023, Kusile Rural District Council’s Problem Animal Control Unit euthanised a sub-adult lion near Banda Village after repeated incursions into residential areas.
Community members say some families now take turns guarding livestock overnight, while children are occasionally kept away from school to monitor grazing herds during periods of heightened predator activity.
Local leaders continue to engage ZimParks and development partners on long-term solutions, including predator-proof fencing, rapid-response ranger patrols and support mechanisms for households affected by wildlife attacks.
