Hyena Havoc in Musani Village, Jambezi
Victor Sibanda
VICTORIA FALLS — In an unsettling turn of events, hyenas have descended upon Musani Village, Chief Shana’s domain with a peculiar appetite – a penchant for dogs. This bizarre behavior has left villagers scratching their heads, with some pointing fingers at witchcraft and others bewildered by the natural order seemingly gone astray.
AmaPitani, a revered 70-year-old granny in Musani Village, recounted a harrowing night when hyenas besieged her neighbor’s homestead. The pack made off with their only dog, its whimpers of distress failing to rouse the occupants from their slumber. “It was like a scene straight out of a nightmare,” AmaPitani lamented, her voice laced with disbelief. “The hyenas left a trail of destruction in their wake, and all that remained was a blood trail marking the dog’s tragic end. In all my years, I have never known hyenas to target dogs in our village. They typically go after the likes of goats or cattle. This is a mystery that weighs heavily on me.”
Similar tales of woe echoed throughout Musani. Alexander Nyoni, a village resident for 67 years, expressed utter shock. “Not once in my lifetime have I witnessed hyenas turning our villages into hunting grounds for dogs,” he exclaimed. “Just last month, a pack of hyenas, along with their pups, descended upon my homestead at dawn and snatched away my two beloved dogs. What truly confounds me is that they completely ignored the goats bleating safely in their pen. Dogs seem to be the new delicacy on the hyena menu, a sight I never thought I’d see.”
The villagers are understandably worried about the safety of their remaining canine companions. Sources within Musani are urging authorities to intervene and implement measures to eradicate the hyena menace. “These hyenas seem to have developed a particular fondness for dog meat,” a source confided. “It’s deeply unsettling. We implore the authorities to help us remove these wild animals from our midst. After their nightly raids on our dogs, they vanish back into the forest, only to return when darkness falls. The fear is palpable. We fear these creatures may escalate their attacks, targeting humans if they eliminate all the dogs. Dogs could become an endangered species in this part of the country,” the source added, highlighting the potential threat to their livestock as well.
Onias Mathe, a local educationist, echoed the sentiment, describing the incident as “bizarre and utterly perplexing.” He urged residents to exercise caution, particularly those who indulge in alcohol late into the night. “We must remain vigilant,” he implored. “These hyenas are unpredictable, and we cannot discount the possibility of them mistaking an intoxicated individual for prey.”
Village head Nqiki Ncube expressed his deep concern over the developments. “This is a cause for grave alarm,” he declared. “Hyenas are now a threat to our very safety. If they are brazen enough to attack dogs, what is to stop them from turning on humans?”
Efforts to reach the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) area representative in Nemananga Ward proved futile, despite repeated attempts. The villagers of Musani now anxiously await a response from the authorities, hoping to restore a sense of normalcy and safety to their once peaceful community.
