Villagers near the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, the site of the mass poisoning of elephants in recent weeks, have reportedly handed over unspecified amounts of the deadly cyanide chemical used by poachers in the park.
According to a report in the Chronicle newspaper, the villagers in Tsholotsho dumped the cyanide on the side of the road, almost a week after the end of a government set deadline to surrender the poison.

Chief Siphoso from Pumula area in Tsholotsho was quoted by the Chronicle as saying that the cyanide was handed over to police. However Chief Siphoso said the people who gave up the chemical could not be identified as they dumped the substance near Pelandaba Primary School, under the cover of darkness.

“I cannot tell who these people are because bafika bajikela endleleni eduze lesikolo (they just dumped it on a path near the school). All the cyanide we got was dumped by unknown individuals. Last time we also picked up some near Phelela Primary. In all these cases we have informed the police,” said Chief Siphoso.