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The herd, believed to be from Dabshan Ranch in Matabeleland South’s Insiza District, is said to have destroyed three homes and several gardens in Sikhombingo area in Lower Gweru.
In an interview, villagers said they were now living in fear owing to the presence of the stray jumbos.
“We are now living in fear from these elephants because they will end up killing people here. There is no longer a vegetable garden in the area around and it is said these elephants are searching for water,” said a villager.
The local headman, headman Sikhombingo said the stray herd has destroyed three homes in his area.
He said the jumbos were straying into villages in search of water and were now drinking at Insukamini Dam.
“I have been in formed that they are searching for water and they finally got water at a local dam, Insukamini. We are now living in fear of these elephants on a daily basis hence our lives are at risk,” said Headman Sikhombingo.
He said they have since notified officials from the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management Authority about the elephant menace in their area.
“The herd is, however, yet to be driven out of the area and parents are now accompanying their children to the local schools in fear of the stray animals,” he said.
Meanwhile, some villagers in Vungu said suspected poachers were now taking advantage of the situation by putting down the stray jumbos and taking away their horns.
The villagers who blamed parks officials for taking long to respond to their reports.
They said so far poachers have killed three jumbos in the area.
“We made a report to the police about two weeks ago when these stray elephants invaded our area but until now, nothing has been done to protect us as well as protecting these animals from poachers. The poachers have since gunned down three elephants in the area,” said a local villager, Mr Tedious Madaka.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Midlands provincial manager Mrs Sharon Msakwa could not be contacted for comment as she was said to be out of office.
Online Reporter