Woman killed by buffalo

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A 52-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulilima died while on her way to hospital after she was attacked by a buffalo on Friday morning.

The incident happened in Lulo Village in Nyele Ward.

Village head Mr Moses Mpofu confirmed the incident and said the woman, Ms Joyce Ngwenya was attacked at around 6am when she was fencing her fields which are located about 500 metres from Tokwana Business Centre.

“There is an incident of a woman from my village who was attacked by a buffalo. She was rushed to Plumtree District Hospital where she was later referred to UBH. We later received a report that she passed away on her way to hospital,” said Mr Mpofu.

He said the buffalo had been spotted in Matjinge area the previous day. Mr Mpofu said the beast emerged from the bushes and on first glance Ms Ngwenya thought it was a cow. He said the buffalo charged at the woman while her son who was standing a few metres away watched helplessly.

“Ms Ngwenya was working in her fields which are just close to her homestead. The buffalo charged at her and attacked her and then stood over her while she was lying on the ground. Her son saw the buffalo attack her mother while he was standing a few metres away. The wild animal finally walked away after a few minutes and he moved closer to check on his mother. She had sustained injuries on her head and arm,” he said.

Mr Mpofu said villages first ferried Ms Ngwenya to Tokwana Clinic before she was referred to Plumtree District Hospital. He said villagers were now living in fear that there could be more incidents of buffalo attacks as a herd of the animals was suspected to be roaming the district.

Bulilima District Administrator Mrs Ethel Moyo said officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Bulilima Rural District Council were deployed soon after the incident and had put down the wild animal. Bulilima Rural District Council chairperson Councillor Morgen Ndebele said the presence of buffalos within the district had become a cause for concern.

He said early last week villagers spotted buffalos roaming around Dombolefu Ward. In a recent incident a 42-year-old Bulilima man escaped with severe injuries after a buffalo attack. The bull which invaded homesteads in Mbimba area in Bambadzi Ward a week ago ripped Mr Japhet Ndlovu’s stomach open leaving his intestines protruding.

Bulilima Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr John Brown Ncube said the wild animals were suspected to be coming from Mabhongwane Concession area in search of water.