SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
IN a rather unbelievable development, residents of Lusaka’s Garden compound yesterday killed a crocodile which emerged from the sewer ponds situated in the area.
Scores of curious people gathered at the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) owned ponds to catch a glimpse of the crocodile which was killed by some boys and men using iron bars, planks and stones.
According to Charles Phiri, a resident of Garden compound, a woman working in a nearby maize field spotted the crocodile at the edge of the sewer pond as it basked in the sunlight.
Charles said that the women shouted for help upon seeing the crocodile and people came forward and started hitting the crocodile with iron bars, planks, sticks and stones until it died.
He explained that the crocodile was then taken to Garden Police Post where police officers also decided to take it to an unknown place.
He cautioned the residents to stay away from the ponds because they are most likely infested with the reptiles.
He also appealed to the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to comb the ponds for any reptiles and decimate kills them.
“Lives are likely to be lost if the ponds are not combed because we suspect more crocodiles could be in there,” he said.
Judith Mwape, another resident of Garden Compound, stated that people in the area have been living in fear ever since they started spotting some crocodiles in the sewer ponds.
She appealed to ZAWA officers to set up camp at the site and clear the reptiles.
Speculation is rife in the compound with some residents claiming a stranger sneaked in, in the night, and dumped the crocodile in the ponds while others suspect foul play by person practicing witchcraft.