Hwange

Hwange woman’s life hangs in balance after elephant attack

Published

4 months ago

August 16, 2024

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Loveness Ncube, the 42-year-old woman from Hwange who was brutally attacked by an elephant while fetching firewood, is still fighting for her life at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.

Despite her critical condition, she has received no government support or intervention, leaving her family and community to bear the burden of her medical expenses.

“She complains of body pains all over her body, struggles to speak, and has a severely injured leg, which the doctors will operate on today,” said her husband, Philmon Munsaka, his voice filled with worry and concern.

Munsaka expressed frustration at the lack of government assistance, saying, “We have not heard any word from the government. No one has come to visit us or offer any support and for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, they only helped by arranging for her ambulance working in collaboration with council, and they dispatched an ambulance from Dinde Clinic.”

Munsaka, recounts the harrowing incident, which occurred on Monday.

“It is not true that she was stealing coal, in fact, she had gone to fetch firewood with her neighbor in the nearby bush because we have a huge crisis of electricity shortages,” Munsaka explained.

He continued, “As they were still picking, they encountered two elephants, and as they reacted, one of them immediately charged at them. The other woman ran faster, and unfortunately, it caught my wife and tossed her hard to the side.”

Munsaka credited a wrapper his wife wore with saving her life. “How she miraculously survived was her wrapping rag or instraro that she had on her waist, so as it gored her with its tusk, the wrapped flung towards its eyes and trunk, so it became more agitated as it tried to get it off its face, and that’s how she was saved.”

Ncube’s neighbor helped her walk despite severe bleeding and eventually left her to seek help as she lost consciousness. The neighbor then used two Honda Fit cars to rescue Ncube from the bush and took her to St Patrick’s Hospital.

Green Shango, a local activist organization , emphasized the need to amend the wildlife bill to assist victims of human-wildlife conflicts. “For her transfer to Bulawayo, she is having difficulty raising the ambulance fees. The fact that wild animals have an ambulance but human victims do not have one is shocking. These conflicts will only grow more frequent as climate change becomes more severe.”

Hwange

Hwange Local Board impounds cattle: Owners urged to claim animals

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Hwange Local Board is urging livestock farmers to come forward and claim their cattle that were impounded by Council Police last week.

According to a notice issued by Acting Town Secretary Paul Mabhureni, the 10 animals have been unclaimed for over a week and are currently being held at the impound yard.

Farmers with missing cattle are advised to visit the Hwange Local Board offices to identify and claim their animals.

A daily fee will be charged for each impounded animal, and if the animals remain unclaimed after a month, the Council will auction them off .

The Hwange Local Board is also warning livestock owners to take responsibility for managing and controlling the movement of their animals to prevent them from encroaching into residential areas.

Council Police have increased patrols to reduce the presence of stray animals in these areas.

Residents are encouraged to report any stray livestock to the Council immediately.

Hwange

Victoria Falls City Council meeting aborted due to lack of quorum

Published

5 days ago

December 17, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A full council meeting scheduled to take place at the Victoria Falls City Council today was aborted due to a lack of quorum.

The meeting, which was initially scheduled for Thursday, was fast forward to today in the wake of reports of confusion at Town House.

The meeting was called to discuss the suspension of Town Clerk Ronnie Dube who was suspended two weeks ago on corruption allegations.

It was further reported that it was also to rescind the Housing Director Brian Nyamande.

However, only five councillors attended, falling short of the required six to form a quorum.

According to Mayor Tuso Moyo, the meeting was urgent, but the lack of quorum prevented any progress.

However, residents’ associations disputed this agenda, stating that the meeting was against the will of the residents and that they were expecting it to take place on Thursday.

Hwange District Residents Association and Victoria Falls Combined Residents’ Association representatives and a few residents were gathered outside the boardroom, awaiting the outcome of the meeting.

The suspension of Dube has sparked controversy, with many calling for transparency and accountability.

The aborted meeting has only added to the uncertainty, leaving many questions unanswered, HWANDRA chair, Hebert Ncube said after the meeting.

“We also gather that the minister, Daniel Garwe, has summoned the two and the mayor, deputy mayor to Harare tomorrow where they just came from again last week. There is so much pressure to rescind the suspension of Dube, but we are saying, he should come here and talk to the people and let justice handle this, then he can be rescinded.”

Hwange

Hwange Local Board cracks down on overdue license fees

Published

6 days ago

December 16, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Hwange Local Board has issued a stern warning to business owners with overdue license fees, stating that trading licenses for the 2025 license year will not be renewed for commercial properties with outstanding accounts.

According to a notice issued by Acting Town Secretary Mr. Paul Mabhureni, “Hwange Local Board would like to advise the business community that we will not renew trading licenses for the license year 2025 to all commercial properties whose accounts are in arrears.”

The notice further states that “The Business License Renewal period for the license year 2025 commenced in November 2024 and ends on 31 December 2024.”

Additionally, the notice reminds business owners that, “In terms of the Shop Licences Act Chapter 14.17, no person shall in any shop, store or other fixed place of business, carry on the trade or business of selling or letting for hire any goods except in terms of a shop licence.”

Business owners who fail to renew their licenses within the stipulated timeframe will face penalties, including a fine of one-twelfth of the appropriate license fee for each month or part thereof that has elapsed since their liability arose.

The notice concludes by advising business owners to ensure that their premises are inspected prior to renewing their trading licenses, and urging cooperation in settling outstanding accounts to avoid disruptions to their operations.