adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
A 44-YEAR-OLD man was attacked and killed by an elephant at Mlageni grazing area in Tsholotsho on Monday. Jinja Moyo from Tshayani Line in Ward 10 was trampled by the jumbo after taking his cattle for grazing with his friend.
Jinja’s friend managed to escape when the elephant charged at them at around 4AM.
Tsholotsho Rural District Council Chief executive Officer, Themba Moyo, confirmed the incident.
He said Jinja was killed in an area that was out of bounds for people at this time of the year due to the threat of wild animals.
Moyo said the local authority, Campfire and the District Administrator’s office were assisting the bereaved family with burial expenses.
“We always help out at such times of humanitarian disasters due to wildlife attacks,” he said.
Ward 8 Councillor, Elmon Ncube, said the area was prohibited at this time of the year because it was supposed to be conserved for later use in dry periods.
“These two men were risking their lives by being found in that place at this time of the year. At around 4 AM, they came across an elephant and the one who saw it first ran away while Moyo squatted next to a small shrub thinking the elephant wouldn’t see him. It went straight for him and left him dead,” said Ncube.
He said council continues to warn people to desist from trespassing in prohibited areas.
Online Reporter