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How a flip-flop cost the life of a tour guide:USA tourist narrates the Victoria Falls elephant attack

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Conflict between humans and elephants is more intense in Zimbabwe – over 60 people are killed every year. Clashes are particularly frequent in areas close to the national and at times, such tragedies happen during the tour activities.

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On December 23 last year, Jason Hansen, a tourist from the United States of America, together with his family witnessed a tour guide being trampled and gored by one of the domesticated elephants during an elephant ride at one of the tour companies.

The conflict, according to Hansen, happened after one of the tourist’s children dropped a shoe and the elephant attacker’s calf picked it, causing the mother elephant to protect her baby.

Hansen’s family, which included his wife, mother, two children and father in law had just crossed the border to Zimbabwe to tour the Rainforest before proceeding to do their elephant ride activity, which had always been their dream adventure.

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They were met by their guide identified as Mr B, and they finished the tour at 11am before being taken to Elephant and Cheetah Experience venue.

But when they arrived, 30 minutes later, Hansen told VicFallsLive that there was another group arriving at the same time who were apparently late.

“The person in charge had asked us if we would be ok waiting a few minutes while they completed their tour,” Hansen narrated the ordeal leading to the tragic event.

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“They said not more than 30 minutes, but it took them almost one hour before they completed their experience and the elephants were brought back to us.

Before the family in front of us got back the next family had arrived and appeared to be a local family and the man with the local family was arguing very loudly with the staff and I could tell that they were upset that they were being delayed.

To calm the storm, Hansen said the staff then asked them if they did not mind doubling up riders on the elephants so they could accommodate both parties on the five elephants they had for riding, although not happy, they agreed.

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“My mother and I were riding on the first elephant, my daughter and son were riding on the second elephant and the third elephant with two little kids and the local family’s mom,” Hansen said.

“This elephant was also a mother elephant with an eight month old-baby that was following her around, the fourth elephant being the father-in-law and wife and the fifth the elephant had two more people from the local family.  Each elephant had a keeper that was directing the elephants.

Both families were about five minutes into the ride when the incident happened.

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“One of the children on their elephants lost her flip flop. The baby elephant picked up the shoe and was running around with it,”Hansen narrated.

” The keepers on the ground were trying to get her to release it and the baby went under the mama elephant causing the mama to turn sharply and all four people were thrown to the ground.

“The keeper of elephant two with my daughter and son jumped off and hid by a tree and watched as the mother of the child pulled their kid out from under the mama elephant and got away.

” My son and Daughter watched as the elephant picked up the keeper’s body and threw it against a tree and continued to stomp and gore the body and when the mama elephant was done, she came over and all ran into the bush and my son and daughter were alone on the back of elephant as it ran through the trees.

“It eventually stopped at a water hole clearing and their legs were scraped on trees and were splashed with mud by the elephant.

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” My mom and my elephant immediately ran into the forest for about 20 to 30 minutes before the keeper was able to stop it from running.

” It was very painful for my mother in her hips with the jarring of the running and the keeper was using its hook to try to get the elephant under control.”

Hansen said the elephant finally started to head back and the keeper used his cell phone to call back to the others but could not keep it under control.

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” The keeper could not control the elephant and it made its way back to where it found elephant three with daughter and son on it and elephant four with the baby.

” They vocalized and all of them started running again, but their keepers on the ground eventually were able to surround us in the bush and coax the elephants to head back to their caged area.”

For safety, Hansen told VicFallsLive that the elephants had to be caged and some chained

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” I was helped off of the elephant and they were able to coax the elephant to kneel and tried to help my mom off.  Mom fell from the elephant on top of the keeper into the elephant dung and hit her knee hard,”

“They were able to help her up and walked her out of the cage and they then got elephant three to kneel and my daughter and son ran out of the cage.

” My daughter was able to message our tour operator and they messaged Mr B who had driven to the venue and had his car back to the elephant pen and collected the four of us and took us back to the front gate, probably a kilometer from the front gate.

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” None of the staff helped us after we got out of the pen. If Mr B had not arrived, we may have had to figure out a way to walk the distance back to the front gate.”

After, Hansen said there was a medic that checked out his mother for injuries to the knee and took her blood pressure.

” No one from the company came to talk to us, not police or any other authorities came to ask us about what happened, only the transportation company took us back to the border and stayed with us until the Zambian tour representative came to collect us, but this was a very traumatic experience for us especially for my son and daughter having to witness a horrific death.”

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“We felt very bad for the family of the keeper who lost their life because of the mishandling of the entire situation”

Efforts to get comments from the company were fruitless as their mobile number was not reachable.

Hansen said such tragic encounters call for authorities to alert visitors to be made fully aware of the risks involved in interacting with wild animals such as the elephants.

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National

Chidzivo, Waison take top honors at Vic Falls Marathon

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Blessing Waison and Fortunate Chidzivo took top honors at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon yesterday, as Zimbabwean long-distance runners excelled at Africa’s most prestigious road race.

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Econet General Manager – Marketing, Mrs Tariro Muchena (left), and Finance Director, Mr Chengeto Moyo, present the winner’s prize to men’s marathon champion, Blessing Waison, at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, while Victoria Falls Mayor, Mr Prince Moyo, looks on

The event, which featured athletes from over 40 countries, saw Waison storm to victory in the men’s full marathon, clocking 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 16 seconds. He narrowly beat decorated Olympian Isaac Mpofu in a thrilling duel that brought thousands of spectators to their feet.

Godwin Katakura followed closely in third, completing an all-Zimbabwean podium sweep in the 42.2km race. The trio’s success came with bigger rewards this year, after Econet Wireless doubled the total prize purse to $50,000.

Waison walked away with $3,000, while Mpofu and Katakura earned $2,000 and $1,500, respectively.

In the women’s marathon, Chidzivo delivered a commanding performance, clocking 2 hours and 42 minutes to claim another major title in her illustrious career. Ethel Pangiso and Phillipa Dube completed the women’s podium in second and third place, respectively.

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Rising star Wayne Kabondo turned heads in the men’s 21km half marathon, overcoming a formidable field to finish in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. Kabondo pocketed $1,500 for his efforts.

In the women’s 21km race, Caroline Mhandu crossed the line in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds, ahead of Miriam Sibanda and Melody Kaseke.

The marathon’s inclusive spirit was evident in the 18km Specially Abled Races, which saw uplifting performances across different categories. Godknows Hamadziripi claimed the men’s tricycle title, while Samson Muroyiwa won the handcycle event.

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Among the women, Stella Jongwe triumphed in the handcycle race, and Ratidzo Tomu took first position in the tricycle category.

Organized by Econet Wireless in partnership with Wild Horizons, the 2025 edition drew over 5,000 participants and spectators from more than 40 countries. The marathon route, widely regarded as Africa’s most scenic, winds through game reserves and offers spectacular views of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/1941861569450725776?s=46

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Beyond the races, this year’s event featured live music, traditional dance, health expos, and community wellness activities.

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Zimparks launches elephant culling program

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a bid to address the growing elephant population in Save Valley Conservancy, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has issued permits for a controlled elephant management exercise.

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The exercise, slated to commence shortly, aims to cull an initial 50 elephants from the conservancy, which is currently home to 2,550 elephants – more than three times the ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants.

According to ZimParks, the conservancy has been struggling to cope with the swelling elephant population, which has put a strain on the wildlife habitat and resources. Over the past five years, the conservancy has translocated 200 elephants to other areas, including Hurungwe and Sapi, in an effort to manage the population.

Zimparks says the controlled culling exercise is expected to provide relief to the conservancy’s ecosystem, while also benefiting local communities.

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Elephant meat from the exercise will be distributed to local communities while the ivory will be kept by the State.

In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo emphasized the authority’s commitment to responsible and sustainable wildlife management.

“We remain committed to ensuring that our wildlife resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

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In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

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Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

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If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

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