Baboons invade Bulawayo homes

Hungry baboons are now a nuisance in Pumula south Bulawayo.

The primates are visiting the location from their hideouts in Khami Dam area.

A number of residents yesterday expressed concern that the baboons are now vandalising their roofs as they hop from one house to the other.

Sometimes the baboons snatch bread from children coming from the shops.

One resident, who identified himself only as Mr Sibanda, said they also fear that the baboons may bring diseases to their neighbourhood.

“We don’t know what diseases these animals bring from the forests. We and our children eat the same mangoes. We are worried that there may be outbreaks of deadly diseases. Most houses have mango trees and only God knows what will happen once the mangoes get finished. We don’t know what they will feed on next,” he said.

Another resident, identified only as Mr Moyo, said his roof was destroyed by baboons. He said the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority must intervene.

Ziparks spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo referred the matter to their Bulawayo offices, but efforts to get a comment there were fruitless.