Donkey menace hits Bulawayo suburbs

THE City of Bulawayo is facing a donkey menace in several suburbs that include Cowdray Park, Pumula and Magwegwe North where the animals roam freely and destroy residents’ nutrition gardens in homes without adequate security, council has noted.

In its latest council minutes, the local authority noted that the donkeys are left to roam city suburbs come from peri-urban areas such as St Peters and resettlement after the Khami Prison Complex.

Councils said the situation is compounded by the non-availability of vehicles to drive the animals back to the peri-urban areas from the affected suburbs.

“Donkeys are becoming a menace in the city especially in suburbs such as Cowdray Park, Pumula and Magwegwe North among others which are close to peri-urban areas. The Lands inspectorate is highly incapacitated to remove the donkeys around the affected suburbs back to the peri -urban areas due to transport challenges.

“The main utility vehicle for that purpose is parked at the council workshop for repairs,” said council.

Meanwhile, in a joint extended blitz by council rangers, council security department and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) against illegal mining, sand poaching and illegal wood harvesting in the Greater Bulawayo areas trucks, scotch carts and equipment were seized last month.

“Two trucks and four scotch carts were impounded for sand and wood poaching respectively. 42 tickets were issued for various offenses against sand poaching suspects with 36 tickets paid and a sum of US$2 216 was realised.

“54 surveillance patrols were conducted at illegal gold panning sites such as Mahatshula, Parklands and part of Emhlangeni.

Three compressors, two generators, one jack hammer and two manual pulleys were confiscated,” said council.

Since January 1 314 tools from illegal mining activities have been confiscated.