National

‘A deadly year’: 70 killed by wild animals across Zimbabwe in 2021

Published

4 years ago

December 21, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) says 70 people were killed by wild animals, especially by elephants this year as human-wildlife conflicts escalate throughout the country.

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told VicFallsLive that the distressing human-wildlife conflicts were prevalent in districts such as Binga in Matabeleland North, Mbire in Mashonaland Central and Bikita in Masvingo where some villagers are bordering game reserves.

“As we come towards the end of the year, we feel it is important to update you about the human-wildlife conflicts that have happened since the beginning of the year,” Farawo said.

“We have lost 70 lives to different animals, but the majority of the cases were involving elephants and crocodiles ad most of the districts which were affected are Binga in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West in Kariba, Masvingo areas like Bikita and Mashonaland Central in Mbire and Muzarabani.”

One of the tragic incidents involved a Victoria Falls bartender, who was gored by an elephant behind Victoria Falls police station last month as he was walking home from work at around 3AM.

In October, game scout Clever Kapandure from the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit was also trampled to death by an elephant during a routine patrol around the resort city.

“But we ask, why is it we are having this kind of increase because this year we received close to 2 000 distress calls from these communities either about lions, elephants and buffaloes and we think we are getting punished for doing what is good for our animals,” Farawo said.

“Our elephant, lion and other species population is growing, and our human population is also growing when our country is not expanding.

“If you look at Hwange National Park compared to 50 years ago, the wildlife has expanded, and this is why we are witnessing such conflicts.

“We are forced to share the resources like water because during hot seasons especially around October until now during the onset of the wet season, it means that more water bodies will be dry and that’s how the animals move around the communities in search of water and food.”

According to the HideAways Life Changing Experiences, the Hwange game reserve is home to an estimated 44 000 pachyderms inhabiting the 14 651 square kilometre park, which is half of the country’s elephant population.

Meanwhile, Farawo said they had embarked on mobile education campaigns on how to manage human-wildlife conflicts such as avoiding moving at night, keeping a safe distance and avoiding provoking the animals.

He said plans were afoot to review the Parks and Wildlife Act so that it speaks to the realities as Zimparks felt that the existing law was outdated and colonial.

National

30 killed in Easter road crashes as pedestrians bear the brunt

Published

13 hours ago

April 9, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has reported a worrying rise in road fatalities during the 2026 Easter holiday, despite a decline in the total number of accidents.

According to the police, 30 people were killed in road traffic accidents during the holiday period, up from 24 deaths recorded in 2025. However, the total number of accidents dropped from 384 in 2025 to 337 in 2026, while injuries also decreased significantly from 178 to 104.

Police said 22 of the recorded accidents were fatal, compared to 21 during the same period last year.

Pedestrians most affected

Pedestrians accounted for the majority of fatalities, making up 63% of the deaths (19 people). Passengers were the second most affected group with seven deaths (23%), followed by drivers with three (10%), while one rider (3%) was killed.

Speeding, overtaking blamed

Authorities identified speeding as the leading cause of accidents during the period, with many drivers losing control of their vehicles. Unsafe overtaking was also cited as a major contributor to head-on collisions.

Deadly incidents recorded

One of the most tragic incidents occurred on 2 April 2026, when six family members died after a head-on collision between a Toyota Corolla and a truck along the Harare–Masvingo Road.

In another traffic accident , seven people were killed and four injured on 3 April 2026 at the 51km peg along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road. A truck rammed into three vehicles — a Nissan March, Toyota Probox and Toyota Hiace — before striking pedestrians who had gathered at the scene.

Police warning

The police have urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic laws and avoid speeding, especially during peak travel periods. Drivers involved in accidents are also being reminded to stop, render assistance and report incidents.

National

Econet InfraCo targets ultra-luxury market with Vic Falls resort

Published

13 hours ago

April 9, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Econet InfraCo has unveiled plans for a multimillion-dollar luxury resort in Victoria Falls, marking a strategic push by the billion-dollar infrastructure platform into high-end tourism.

The development, branded Vic Falls Lifestyle, will feature 40 luxury residential villas supported by premium amenities, including restaurants, wellness centres and sports facilities.

Chief executive Fayaz King described the project as a landmark for Zimbabwe’s luxury tourism segment.
“These will be among the most exclusive residential properties ever developed in Zimbabwe, designed to meet top-tier international hospitality standards comparable to presidential suites in leading global hotels,” he said.

The project aims to reposition Victoria Falls as a destination for affluent global travellers seeking privacy, exclusivity and fully integrated services.
Recently listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange with a valuation of about US$1 billion, Econet InfraCo said the resort will include a 24-hour, 10-bed private hospital offering emergency and dental services—an amenity tailored to high-net-worth clientele.
Security and privacy will be central to the offering, with the gated development providing round-the-clock protection for residents and guests.

Under the investment model, buyers will own individual villas but will be required to place them in a rental pool for up to 11 months a year, balancing personal use with income generation.

“Victoria Falls needs developments of this calibre to attract visitors who not only spend, but invest,” King said.

Econet founder and group chairman Strive Masiyiwa played an advisory role in shaping the concept and is expected to be among the property owners.
The company said the project has already drawn interest from local and diaspora investors, as well as international buyers.

Land has been secured, planning is at an advanced stage, and construction is scheduled to begin before year-end.

The Victoria Falls resort is Econet InfraCo’s second major project. Its flagship, Econet Tech City, is a planned industrial and technology hub near Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, expected to host around 300 businesses across more than 800 hectares.

National

Parliament moves to curb machete gang violence in rural areas

Published

2 days ago

April 8, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Lawmakers are demanding an urgent security crackdown in rural constituencies following a report of nearly 1 000 violent incidents involving machete-wielding gangs over a four-year period.

A motion moved by Brown Ndlovu highlighted the “horrific terror unleashed by machete-wielding gangsters” in the Vungu Constituency of Midlands Province, where murders, robberies, and assaults have reportedly become a daily occurrence. Official records presented to the House show that 997 violent cases were reported in the Vungu district alone between 2021 and 2025 .

Hwange Central MP, Daniel Molokele, recently raised the alarm to VicFallsLive, following his tour at Inyathi District Hospital, where he revealed that the gold panners were now digging under the hospital and that most casualties and admissions at the hospital were linked to machete-gang violence.

Parliamentarians expressed sharp “disdain” for current judicial practices, noting that the integrity of the legal system is at risk . The motion criticized the fact that “suspects who perpetrate such horrendous crimes are often granted bail and allowed to return to the same communities where they freely continue to molest and intimidate victims and witnesses,”a practice they say grossly undermines public safety.

The House has called for the Zimbabwe Republic Police in rural areas to be modernized and properly equipped. Specifically, lawmakers are urging the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide officers with “adequate tools of trade such as vehicles, modern communication equipment, and weapons to wade off criminal activities”. Additionally, the motion proposes that bail should be denied in machete-related cases and that state witnesses be granted enhanced protection from “intimidation, retributions and retaliations”