mbulelo smpofuFaith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
WILD animals, mainly elephants and hyenas are wreaking havoc in Lupane District, Matabeleland North Province, with villagers in several wards reporting widespread crop destruction, loss of livestock, and even close encounters that nearly turned fatal.
A herd of elephants suspected to have strayed from Hwange National Park has been causing sleepless nights for villagers in areas such as Gomoza, Mpikiwa, Lupanda and Sotani, where dozens of households have been affected. The animals are reportedly trampling crops, destroying homesteads and threatening human life.
Ms Priscilla Moyo from Gomoza Village said villagers are using traditional methods to protect their fields, although with little success.
“This year, we are likely to harvest nothing because of these elephants. They are in our fields almost every day. Early last month, ZimParks rangers shot one elephant to scare the others away, but the problem persists,” she said.
“We beat drums during the day and light fires at night to chase them away, but it’s not working.”
The situation is worsened by the presence of hyenas and stray buffaloes, which are also posing a threat to villagers and livestock.
Mrs Simelinkosi Sibanda of Mpikiwa Village said she had a terrifying encounter recently.
“Hyenas are killing our goats and chickens. We are also seeing more buffaloes in the area, which is unusual. I was nearly killed by one while coming from the clinic. It charged at me and gored me and I was lucky to escape with no serious injuries,” she said.
Another villager, Mr Themba Ncube of Sotani Village said the elephants have flattened his entire maize crop.
“I was hoping for a good harvest this year, especially after struggling during the drought last season. But now, I have nothing left in the fields. The elephants came three nights in a row and destroyed everything. We reported to the authorities, but no help has come yet,” he said.
Mrs Sithandazile Dube, a widow from Lupanda West, added: “We feel abandoned. We’ve tried to erect fences using logs and wires, but the elephants just knock them down. I have no source of income now that my small crop is gone, and I fear for my children’s safety at night.”
Lupane District Development Co-ordinator Mrs Ennerty Sithole said at least 47 households have so far been affected, with 10 in Lupanda West and 37 in Sotani Village alone.
“This is a serious issue. The wild animals are moving closer to homesteads and fields. Our office is engaging relevant stakeholders to find long-term solutions,” she said
The human-wildlife conflict in Lupane is part of a wider national challenge in communities bordering conservation areas. Zimbabwe is home to the second-largest elephant population in Africa, and Hwange National Park, the country’s largest wildlife reserve, is a known hotspot for elephants migrating in search of food and water, especially during dry seasons or drought years.
ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said the Government has introduced several community-based conservation strategies aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence.
“We are implementing initiatives like the Campfire Programme (Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources) to empower communities to benefit from wildlife through tourism and regulated hunting,” he said.
“At the same time, we continue to educate communities about reporting problem animals and avoiding confrontation. ZimParks is working with traditional leaders and local authorities to address the conflict in Lupane and similar districts.”
Mr Farawo stressed the importance of early reporting and swift communication to prevent loss of life and damage to property.
Online Reporter