Runde to float croc farm tenders

SCORES of villagers have been killed by over 500 crocodiles in Runde River around the Zvishavane area in the past year, amid indications that the semi-aquatic reptiles’ population is increasing at an alarming rate.

This has put villagers and livestock in the area in grave danger.

In an interview, Runde Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Gordon Moyo said only two weeks ago, a villager was mauled by the crocodiles.

He said council had decided to open up tenders for the setting up of a crocodile farm so that the community and local authority could benefit from the reptiles.

“The idea we have to save human and livestock lives is going to tender to have bidders as per requirement from the procurement board,” he said.

“We have the resource, which is the crocodile, and at the moment is a menace to the villagers and their livestock as scores of villagers and their livestock have been mauled while using the water.

“There is a white farmer who used to do crocodile farming along Runde River here in Zvishavane.

“After he left, the project was abandoned and the crocodiles have been increasing without control.”

Mr Moyo said an established white farmer from Masvingo was recently arrested while allegedly poaching the crocodiles.

He said some villagers now want the alleged poacher to continue depopulating the river while others said he was stealing a natural resource that could benefit them.

“The crocodiles are now a menace in the area,” said Mr Moyo.

“Two weeks ago, a fisherman was eaten by the crocodiles and nothing was recovered. We have in excess of 500 adult crocodiles and hundreds of young crocodiles.”

Mr Moyo said in 2011, they gave the tender to set up a crocodile farm to a local company, but it failed.

He explained that every year, poachers come to steal crocodile eggs, which are a lucrative business and “as council we are losing revenue”.

“We used to have resistance in the community, but the crocodiles are now a menace to villagers and their livestock. The villagers now want us to quickly have the project on course so that we have a win-win situation between the community and the rural district council,” he said.

“We will have the community owning up the croc project in part. This is a lucrative business which we are taking up as a means of controlling the crocodiles, as well as bringing revenue to the council and the community.”

In April, Tawanda Ranganai (40) of Zvishavane died after he was devoured by crocodiles while on a fishing expedition in the Runde River.

Ranganai’s body parts were discovered the following morning by villagers.