adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A curio vendor in Victoria Falls was trampled to death by an elephant at the Big Tree on Sunday afternoon, police confirmed yesterday. The officer commanding Victoria Falls District, Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona, identified the victim as Member Ncube, 32, of Mkhosana.
Ncube was attacked at around 4.30 PM while selling curios in the company of Cornwell Nkomo who managed to run away from the charging female jumbo. “I can confirm that we received a report about a man who was trampled to death by an elephant near the Big Tree,” said Chief Supt Chiwona. “They were two and they came across a female elephant which had a calf. The two fled but the elephant caught up with Ncube.”
He said after killing Ncube, the jumbo dragged his body for some metres before dumping it.
Nkomo said they ran in different directions when the elephant charged at them.
“We used to work together and yesterday we were sitting at some secluded place near a pool of water where animals usually drink. We usually sit there hiding from police and as we left going towards the Big Tree, about 200 metres away, we suddenly saw an elephant in front of us,” he said.
Nkomo said they retreated before the jumbo chased them.
“As we retreated it blew its trumpet and we started running. We fled into the bush in different directions and I found myself surrounded by a herd of elephants. I changed direction and later went back to the Big Tree where I sat waiting for Ncube thinking that he would come back,” he said.
He said he later phoned his number but his phone was not being asnwered. Police and rangers retrieved the body at around 11PM following a search.
Curio vendors usually risk their lives by going to the Big Tree to sell their wares to tourists who make brief stop overs to take pictures of the baobab tree. They are usually involved in running battles with the police and Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers as people are not allowed in the area without being accompanied by guides because of the dangers posed by wild animals.
Tourists will be in the company of professional guides.
Online Reporter