By A Correspondent- Swarms of several indigenous locust species have hit Chiredzi and Mwenezi damaging nearly 8 000 hectares of crops.

According to the state media, small grains have been the worst affected by these rare locusts.

Shingirai Nyamutukwa, head of the Plant Protection Research Institute said that the outbreak of three indigenous locust species locust which does not spread over long distances unlike the African migratory locust – had damaged 3 – 92 per cent of the crops, leaving scores of farmers at risk of food insecurity.