By Lusakatimes staffer
The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has instituted investigations into allegations that some crocodile farmers in Siavonga District are releasing condemned crocodiles into Lake Kariba.
ZAWA Acting Director General Jack Chulu said reports of farmers dumping crocodiles in the lake are serious and that the authority will immediately act on the reports to enable establish the truth.
“We want you the stakeholders and the village headmen to help us by bringing forward evidence of farmers that are releasing crocodiles in the lake in order for us to take it seriously with the respective farmers, As ZAWA we will also carry out our own investigations so that the truth is established,” Chulu charged.
Chief Simamba and his four village headmen have attributed the sudden increase in the number of crocodiles in Lake Kariba to the offloading of the reptiles by some white farmers in Siavonga.[quote]
The Traditional leaders alleged that the crocodiles that are being released on the lake from the farms are actually the ones that are attacking villagers that live along the lake shore.
The traditional leaders issued the remarks during a meeting that was convened by Tourism and Environment Deputy Minister Moses Mwangala in Siavonga on Monday 21 st December.
The meeting that was held in the District Commissioner Emily Striedl’s office on 21 st December. and attended by key stakeholders was aimed at finding a long term solution on the problem of crocodiles that are attacking people on the banks of Lake Kariba.
Chief Simamba who was represented by his Advisor Phanwell Simamba called on ZAWA to consider carrying out the cropping of crocodiles which he said has become a menace to people’s lives.
“We want government to carry out the cropping exercise of crocodiles on Lake Kariba because they have grown in numbers leading to them attacking both human and livestock animals, “he appealed.
Chief Simamba demanded that the cropping exercise be carried out immediately because government last embarked on such an exercise in the year 1966.
In response, Chulu said as much as ZAWA would like to carry out the cropping exercise, a lot of resources are needed to carry out the exercise.
Chulu said ZAWA however faces a challenge of organizing financial resources to enable carry out the cropping exercise saying things such as a survey need to be done in order to establish the number of reptiles on the waters.
He said that ZAWA will try and talk to its cooperating partners in an effort to try and source for funds needed to carry out the exercise.
Chulu however observed that there is need to conduct public sensitization meetings in villages that are located in crocodile infested areas so that the villages can prevent themselves from getting attacked.
And Mwangala said government is alarmed by the reports of people in Siavonga district that are getting attacked by crocodiles on Lake Kariba some of which have led to deaths.
Do we also have “black farmers” in Zambia? I find the use of the expression “white farmers” to be racists.
What are condemned crocs? Ba LT Be more comprehensive in your coverage
The use of WHITE FARMERS is racist, can we at least refrain from using such terms,Please people should know that lake Kariba was created after damming the Zambezi river, having crocs in there does not mean that someone dumped them in their, ZAWA should just find ways of croping them down than waste time investigating anyone, if they are serious, they should investigate the Zambian government who made that dam in the first place, the dam is a hazard
I hope the mighty Gustav has not migrated to our Lake kariba.
That croc in the pic looks like RB!
‘farmers’ would have sufficed.
…..’White farmers……………’!
What’s so racist about calling them White Farmers because that’s who they are? What do you think they call us when we do something contravenous in their countries?
Back to the topic: #2 is right, we need to know why these crocs are “condemned” and why they are being “dumped” into the lakes when thats their natural habitat.
Zambia isn’t only for people of african ethnicity. We have asian(oriental and indian) zambians, caucasian zambians and *drumroll* black zambians. And to the person who said that white people would have printed a headline like this if it was a black person in their country doesnt mean its ok. Anyway Lusakatimes shame on you for having such a headline.
Iyee abantu ukupunama!!
What is racist about “White farmers…”?
Black people and white people do actually exist.
Zambians in Europe, America and Asia are called black people!
And don’t you start preaching Political Correctness here, it just won’t hold!
#2 You asked > What are condemned crocs?
Well they are the disliked ones that causes trouble to the farmer and the other farm animals the farmer has.
Remember that the holy cow is the best fighter in the village.
Happy xmas you and other blogs.
#11 Thanks a lot for the explanation. But I thought that crocodiles are kept for their skins – this is actually commercial business. Therefore, the troublesome crocodiles why not just remove their skins early? I do not think they will continue to cause trouble without skins. #5 you are d.amn s.tu.pid. There is humor and their is s.tupi.dity and yours is the latter. The failure to make a distinction is what defines a lot of human beings.
There is nothing racist about calling them “White farmers”. Travel to Europe and America to name only two destination, and you wont be surprised to be called “Black”. I am proud of my skin colour and the way God made me and there are white guys make no mistake about it.
If those white farmers are doing what is illegal, they must be invastigated and if found guilty must be punished period. They must obey the law of the land if they want to live in Zambia. They must be treated like any law breaker. Don’t be afraid of their skin they are just human beings like you.
Ba Mwansa why should we behave in a racist manner simply because the well travelled Mr Mwansa was called black in Europe and America. Farmers would have sufficed!
#8, 10 &13 I dont know what you do for your living but would you rather you are called Black Doctor, Black Accountant, Black Nurse, Black Lecturer?? Even Obama is not referred to as Black President but as first black man to be US President.
It is not political correctness at all, but in Zambia we take racism very lightly. Not long ago William Harrington was publicly racially abused within the perimeters of the High Court of Zambia and not even one single NGO condemned the incident.
We Zambians lack sensitivity in this area – even calling Indians ba Mwenye is derogatory in my view.
#12 – You have just settled the arguement for me. Surely there are financial benefits in killing the croc than letting it go. Apart from its skin, I understand the meat is edible and is a delicacy among Austrialians. I should think Zambians eat this meat given that we also delve on monkeys and imbebas.
Unless the condemination relates to the bad croc skin commercially then there might be some merit in story. As for calling our friends white farmers, there’s nothing racist about that but a mere description of a perpetrator
I still strongly feel the heading of this story is racial. I am not a journalist but if I were the one writing it, I would have titled it: Crocodile Farmers Accused of Dumping Crocs in Lake Kariba or simply Crocs Dumped in Lake Kariba? Period!
I actually find it rascist to call Africans -Black people. the only part of our bodies that are black are our hair and pupils.Black is used to describe evil things.Here in RSA the word black is used so often it pisses me off. Well if they describe us as black without flinching we will also describe them as white.
Even stories that go like “Senior Chief Nalubamba of the Ila…” but what about the Ngonis, Lozis etc who have settled in Namwala? Is Nalubamba not their chief? I think it should be enough to say, Chief Chanje of Chipata District…”etc.
Let us face the facts and put things straight. I can go with Mr. Mwansa’s comments. There is nothing racist in calling one black or white. Racism is a belief in the superiority of a particular race; and prejudice based on this is what is bad.If it doesn’t sound okay in Zambia that is fine but in countries were there are minority and majority, many people and groups, we have black churches, white churches, hispanics and first black president and so on and so forth and it is not a big deal
Publicity is all it is about the story . WHy oh why do they publish such a load of bull dung
These stupid fools are poluying our rvivers with condemn animals.. soon or later we are going to have an inferior species of crocs in Zambezi river unbalancing the eco system. Arrest them and throw these buggaz in the river to be feasted on by their condemned crocs