BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A tragic incident occurred in Hwange on Thursday morning when a man was trampled to death by a rampaging elephant bull while on his way to work.
The victim, identified as John Munzabwa of Lusumbani Village (Number Five), was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Fidelis Chima, chairman of the Greater Hwange Residents Association, the incident occurred around 6:00 AM when Munzabwa was walking to relieve his colleague at the open cast mine. “The deceased person was actually walking to work early in the morning… when he was charged by an elephant that had a baby,” Chima explained.
Chima confirmed that the open cast mine is located in an urban area, close to Lusumbani Number Five, and is within walking distance for many residents.
“Usually, workers who reside at Number Five walk to work, especially when there’s no transport,” he said.
The incident has raised concerns among the community about the increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts in the area. “There’s now an increased number of people dying not only due to elephants but also crocodiles and other animals,” Chima noted.
The community attributes the rising conflicts to the increased mining activities in the area, which are disturbing the natural corridors of wildlife.
Chima says the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for coexistence between humans and wildlife, and the importance of finding solutions to mitigate these conflicts.