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AN 80-year-old woman Siphetheni Ngwenya from Kezi was trampled to death by an elephant while working in her fields on Tuesday last week.The elephant reportedly destroyed several homesteads and fields before pouncing on the elderly woman.
A villager Mr Tinashe Mphala told Chronicle that the elephant was believed to have come from Tokwane area in Plumtree.
“The ongoing elephant problem faced by villagers in surrounding areas of Kezi should be treated as a matter of urgency because our children are now absconding school following this development.
“In recent months, two people have been killed by elephants,” said the villager.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson assistant Inspector Christopher Ngwenya yesterday confirmed the incident, saying they received a report of a Kezi woman who was killed by an elephant.
“The deceased Siphetheni Ngwenya was of Mazwi Village under Chief Malaba. Mrs Ngwenya left her homestead at about 6am for her field where the elephant attacked and killed her,” said Asst Insp Ngwenya.
He said the elephant first charged at another villager Trynos Mdlongwa before it killed Mrs Ngwenya.
“Mdlongwa managed to escape uninjured, a few minutes later he heard a scream by a woman calling for help and he suspected that the elephant might have attacked her.
“Mdlongwa alerted other villagers who teamed up and went to investigate.”
He said upon arrival they found the lifeless body of Mrs Ngwenya in an open space and the elephant gone.
“A report was made to police in Sun Yet Sen who attended the scene and ferried the body to Tshelanyemba Hospital.
“The elephant was tracked and killed by a professional hunter Mr Daily Scout provided by Matopo Rural District Council resource manager,” he said.
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