BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Years after surviving a buffalo attack while herding goats, Elizabeth Ndlovu from Hwange’s Mpumelelo village under chief Mvuthu says she continues to struggle with the physical and financial consequences of her injuries.
Ndlovu was seriously injured in 2023 when a buffalo gored her in the abdomen, requiring emergency surgery. However, she says her ordeal did not end after leaving hospital.
She continues to live with a large protruding abdominal lump that developed following the operation. She says medical examinations later indicated that she requires further treatment, but she has been unable to raise the funds needed for another procedure.
Speaking in a video interview with VicFallsLive, Ndlovu described how the injuries have affected her daily life and ability to support herself.
She said the costs associated with seeking additional medical care have placed treatment beyond her reach, leaving her to cope with ongoing discomfort and uncertainty.
Her story is one of several being documented by VicFallsLive as part of an upcoming series examining the impact of human-wildlife conflict on communities living near wildlife areas in Matabeleland North.
The series will feature survivors of attacks involving buffaloes, elephants and lions, highlighting both the immediate and long-term challenges faced by victims and their families.
Watch the teaser video above to hear her story.
