Hippo kills man in Mbire

Daniel Chigunwe Correspondent
A 36-YEAR-OLD man from Makuvatsine Village under Chief Chitsungo in Mbire District of Mashonaland Central was last week attacked and killed by a hippo while he was in his garden.

Takunda Siweka’s stomach was ripped open by the hippo and he died on the spot.

Mbire National Assembly member Cde Douglas Karoro confirmed the tragedy and said it was regrettable that lives were being lost through the human-and-wildlife conflict.

“Something should be done to address the situation in Mbire where lives are being lost to marauding wild animals.

“People in the area are losing livestock and their crops to wild animals,” he said.

Recently, two minors lost their lives after a stray elephant attacked their family while working in the field.

Two other family members are battling for life at Guruve District Hospital.

During the recent visit to the area by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, the Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha also called on Government to urgently intervene to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the district.