Elephants surface in Beitbridge communal fields

One of the communal field where crops were destroyed by elephants on Friday evening in Mzingwane area

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

A herd of elephants has surfaced in Beitbridge where they are destroying communal fields and posing a threat to villagers around the Joko, Mutetenwa and Mzingwane Villages.

Beitbridge Civil Protection Committee focal person, Mr Jahson Mugodzwa said they had notified the Beitbridge RDC and the national parks and wildlife officials about the issue.

He advised villagers to exercise caution to avoid endangering their lives whenever they see dangerous wild animals.

“We have received distress calls from villagers in Mzingwane where the elephants have destroyed several crop fields,” he said.

“In addition, another herd is camped at Mutetenwa where villagers now fear for their lives.

“So as the civil protection committee, we have informed the relevant departments who are already on the ground.”

Elephants have become a perennial threat to crops and villagers , especially those living closer to water bodies, including the Shashe , Umzingwane, Bubi and Limpopo Rivers.