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A herd of about 13 elephants is reportedly causing havoc in Jambezi where it has destroyed numerous fields leaving scores of villagers facing hunger. Villagers from Lumbora and Sidinda areas say they have nothing to show for the good rains that fell this season after the elephants destroyed their maize, millet and sorghum. The herd is reportedly still in the area as rangers that had been invited to drive it away have not visited the community. Schoolchildren from some villages such as Kanyambizi, Nelusi and Sidinda are no longer going to school fearing for their lives.
“We are living in fear because these elephants might end up attacking people. They have destroyed several fields as they have camped in the area and we heard in Sidinda some families were left with nothing at all,” said a villager.
Chief Shana said he alerted Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Zambezi National Park rangers but nothing has been done.
“I received a phone call from Sidinda Ward that three families had their fields totally destroyed. The elephants are still there. We hope they respond before further damage is done,” said Chief Shana.
He confirmed that no one had been attacked.
Meanwhile, a wounded buffalo that charged at some schoolchildren last week in the same community has been shot dead. Pupils attending school at Nejambezi, Nelusi and Kanyambizi had reportedly stopped going to school as the buffalo would charge at anyone it came across.
Villagers say the buffalo had a wire hanging around its horns as it appeared it had been ensnared by poachers.
“The buffalo was finally shot in my field after some days. We had received reports and when some boys spotted its spoor in the field they thought it was a cow and tracked it but ran for their dear lives as it charged at them,” Chief Shana said.
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