Online Reporter
Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
PANDEMONIUM broke out in Kariba when a raging elephant, which is believed to have trampled and killed a mentally challenged resident, stormed John Range Cemetery, sending mourners scampering for safety in different directions.
Mourners and family members, in terror, took to their heels and ran for their dear lives. The giant animal, however, disappeared into the nearby bushes moments later much to the surprise of the mourners who feared the worst.
It was a scary type of movie-like incident
The mourners had gone to bury one of the residents, given as Damore, who is believed to have been killed by the charging elephant.
The incident has sparked fierce debate on the worrying escalating human-wildlife conflicts in Kariba.
The cemetery, situated in a wildlife-rich region, has seen increasing encounters between mourners and wild animals.
Ward 1 Councilor, Elson Sefulani, expressed deep concern on the conflict that has claimed and maimed residents.
Sefulani said a swift mechanism was needed to protect communities from wild animals.
“This incident highlights the urgent need for effective measures to manage wildlife interactions with the communities.
“We cannot allow such conflicts to continue unabated and putting people’s lives at risk,” he said.
However, some mourners expressed grave concern while sharing different schools of thought on the incident.
The mourners believe the proximity of the cemetery to wildlife exposes communities to danger.
“We urge our local authority to take immediate action to address these dangers, as the safety of communities is of paramount importance, and must be prioritized,” said one of the mourners, who chose not to be identified.
He said it was very saddening that the communities are grappling with these increasing conflicts.
“There is a need for a sustainable co-existence between humans and wildfire as it is a critical element in solving the conflict, “ he said.
Mathew Masinge