In the community

Victoria Falls woman gored by buffalo, ranger shot by poachers

Published

2 years ago

March 30, 2023

BY ISAAC NTULI

A 61-year-old Victoria Falls woman is battling for her life after she was gored by a charging buffalo that she was trying to chase away from her goats kraal on Wednesday.

The victim, Elizabeth Ndlovu of Mpumelelo village in BH 10 under Chief Mvuthu was attempting to scare the buffalo away as it had been hiding in her kraal after straying from Forestry Commission sanctuary.

She was rushed to the Victoria Falls hospital and had to be whisked to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo due to her critical condition.

According to one eye witness identified as Mbonisi Ngwenya, Ndlovu was gored from her stomach, leaving her intentines protruding.

“This is really bad, imagine this is the type of danger we have to live with because they are not being controlled, ” Ngwenya said.

The buffalo was immediately put down by Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) ranger Manuel Nkomo who had to fire seven times in order to put it down.

Mpumelelo village head Maxwell Butshe Ndlovu said villagers’ lives were under dangerous conditions due to stray animals.

“We are living in acute danger because of these animals and we would tonurge the government to take urgent action to these escalating human and wildlife conflicts,” Ndlovu urged.

Campfire committee member Nceku Ncube added :”This is now beyond our control,and sincerely hope the proposed compensation would be made law. “

The Councillor of Katchetchete ward three Givemeagain Moyo lamented government’s response to human wildlife conflicts.

Meanwhile ,a ranger from Bayana in Chidobe is reported to have been stabbed to death at the Breakfast resettlement scheme after an altercation with poachers whom he had earlier confronted about their illegal activities.

Currently, the suspected poachers are assisting the police with investigations.

In Mabale village in Dete, another villager was trampled by an elephant a few days ago while in Mvuthu’s jurisdiction, a teen herd boy survived a lion attack which left him with body injuries.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

1 month ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.