Elephant victims demand compensation

Leonard Ncube
RESIDENTS of Victoria Falls want Government to give them an elephant quota, proceeds which would be used to compensate them for property destroyed by the jumbos.
Once in place, such funds would also be used to compensate families of those killed by elephants, residents said.
Contributing at a stakeholders meeting held at the Victoria Falls Municipal boardroom recently, residents said they were losing property comprising water meters, precast walls, buildings, water taps and fruit trees to elephants every year. They said people were also being killed by the wild animals and nothing was being done by authorities.

Residents said the Government should gazette a law where Victoria Falls residents would benefit from the animals the same way other areas were benefiting from natural resources in their localities in line with empowerment laws.

“The majority of residents have no water meters because they have been destroyed by elephants. Parks and Wildlife should sell at least one elephant and we are confident that money will be enough to compensate those whose property will have been destroyed,” said a resident from Ward 11.

Another resident said: “I personally think residents should benefit from these elephants because they cause more harm than good. They kill people and damage property and what benefit are the local residents getting out of wildlife?

Our roads are in a bad state while our local hospital and clinics are not properly equipped, this is the money that should be used.”

The matter was raised when council treasurer Mr Thembinkosi Khumalo complained that residents were unwilling to buy water meters which is the reason why the council estimates rates. Residents responded by saying they were tired of replacing water taps and meters destroyed by elephants. A few months ago, elephants left a trail of destruction especially in Mkhosana where they destroyed water taps and meters while one elephant was shot and killed by Parks rangers after it destroyed a tuckshop where it ate sweets, fruits, bread and jiggies.

Ward 8 Councillor Robson Salimu who was chairing the stakeholders’ meeting also attended by businesses and tour operators said a committee had been formed following complaints by residents about the menacing wild animals.

Mr Trust Geshom Dlamini, representing the committee said they had already approached the council and Member of Parliament for Hwange West Constituency, Cde Bekithemba Mpofu so the matter can be tabled in Parliament.

“We have a serious problem with elephants. They kill people, destroy pre-cast walls, buildings, tuckshops and fruit trees every year. What we are asking for is that we want to benefit from these elephants,” said Mr Dlamini to applause from other residents.

Three people were killed while three others were seriously injured following attacks by elephants and buffaloes in Victoria Falls town since last year. No comment could be obtained from Parks and Wildlife.