VILLAGERS IN KAZUNGULA UP AGAINST GAME RANGERS

VILLAGERS in Bombwe area in Chief Musokotwane’s chiefdom of Kazungula district have demanded for the imPediate rePovaO oI ȯcers from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

The villagers have accused the officers of harassing and brutalising innocent people whom the suspected to be poachers.

Bombwe area between Mulobezi and Suchifulo Game Management areas where game rangers had been deployed to protect the wildlife.

However, the villagers claimed that they were being beaten up or arrested by game rangers on mere suspicion of being poachers.

Senior headman Mung’ambata, said that over 13 people in his area have been shot dead by game rangers and their bodies have not been retrieved.

Headman Mung’ambata told a public meeting in Bombwe last week that villagers were now living in fear.

“On behalf of my people, I want to appeal to Mr Clever Mangunje the senior warden to remove his officers from our land,

“We are also demanding for the bodies of our people killed in the bush by game rangers. We have lost about 13 of our young men and their bodies have not been found, they are still in the bush,” said Headman Mung’ambata.

He explained that whenever villagers saw a Wildlife and National Parks department vehicle in the area, they scampered in all directions for fear of being brutalised by the officers.