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Victoria Falls bartender gored to death by elephant

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A Victoria Falls bartender was trampled to death by an elephant near the main police station in the early hours of Sunday as he was walking home from work.

The man, only identified as William by local residents, is said to have stumbled on three elephants that had a calf.

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A security guard at the Landela Complex, which is close to where the man was killed, said the incident happened close to the police compound.

“I was walking towards that road when I heard elephants trumpeting and this was followed by a loud bang as if something had dropped, or a tree had fallen, “ he said.

“At the scene I found few people and some cars at the scene and they told me that William had been trampled to death by an elephant,

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“I discovered that he had been gored by the elephant on his stomach and his body was thrown about 40 metres away.

” It seems when it gored him, he was carrying a loaf of bread and a wallet.

“We were able to again identify him through his national identity card that he was carrying.”

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According to police officers who witnessed the incident from their houses nearby, he tried to escape to the police compound.

“He used pass by our houses every morning after knocking-off from work at one of the bars in town,” one police officer told Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers who attended the scene around 9.30AM.

“These elephants for the past one month have been crossing through this road going to the suburbs.

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“As this fellow walked to his house, he encountered them and one of the bulls attacked him.

“We heard some loud noise and screams.

” When we went out to investigate we discovered that he had been killed.”

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Frustrated residents accused Zimparks of ignoring their pleas to have the wild animals pushed away from residential areas.

“They tell us that we should learn to cohabit with them as we live in their territories,” the security guard said.

Another resident from Chinotimba added: “Recently one elephant entered my yard when I was washing the plates around 8 PM and I jumped off the fence and it started to feed on my vegetables.

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“ Whenever we report such problems, Zimparks tells us that we should get used to them and we should also desist from attempting to throw objects at them as it is against the law.”

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said he was yet to receive a report about the incident.

However, Zimparks rangers were already searching for the killer elephant.

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Human-wildlife conflicts in the resort city have been on the increase over the past years.

Last month, a Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit conservationist was trampled to death by an elephant bull as he conducted anti-poaching duties around the city.

Last year, another man was trampled to death by an elephant near National Railways of Zimbabwe houses.

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France’s HDF Energy to develop Zimbabwe’s first hydrogen plant

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Zimbabwe’s state-owned electricity distributor has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French independent power producer HDF Energy (HDF.PA) to develop the southern African country’s first green hydrogen power plant, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa witnessed the signing of the MoU worth $300 million between the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and HDF Energy, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information said on Twitter.

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“The plant will produce green power 24/7 feeding into the grid… The annual electric production will be 178 GWh, providing electricity to more than 220,000 inhabitants,” the statement said, adding that it will be located in southeastern Chipinge district.

HDF said it expected to reach a financial close on the project and start construction in 2024-2025.

The signing of the MoU comes amid Zimbabwe’s bid to diversify its energy mix, following reduced power generation after a big drop in water levels in Lake Kariba.

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“This is an encouraging milestone for ZETDC as it comes at a time when the government is encouraging the transition to renewable energy,” engineer John Diya, who was representing the distributor’s acting managing director, said.

Zimbabwe’s government has also set its sights on producing over 1,000 megawatts from solar energy to help narrow the severe energy deficit currently being experienced in the country-Reuters 

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Binga man brutally murders mother over witchcraft allegations

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Kamativi police has arrested a 34 -year – old Binga man who axed his mother to death after accusing her of practicing witchcraft. 

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Police in a statement confirmed arresting Sumayili Juma off Simbala Village in Binga for a crime that he committed on Tuesday. 

The accused allegedly struck his mother on the head and shoulders, killing her instantly at the family’s homestead. 

“Police in Kamativi have arrested Sumayili Juma (34) in connection with a case of murder which occurred on 21/03/23 at Kilima 19, Simbala Village, Binga,” police said. 

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“The suspect struck his mother with an axe on both shoulders and head after accusing her of witchcraft.” 

Meanwhile on Sunday, police in Gwelutshena station in Nkayi arrested Prosper Ncube (33) for a murder case in which he allegedly struck Polite Hlabangani on the abdomen with a brick after a misunderstanding during a gambling game at Gwelutshena shopping centre on January 27. 

The victim died upon admission at Nkayi District Hospital and since then, the accused had been on the run. 

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Malawi floods disaster, Zimbabwean government steps in to offer aid

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BY BRENDA NCUBE

Zimbabwe has formed a Disaster Relief Committee to assist the government of Malawi following Cyclone Freddy storm that claimed over 400 and caused extensive damage to homes and social services infrastructure. 

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The pledge,  at it’s final craft plans, was presided over by president Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday while Local Government and Public Works ministry was mandated to lead the lobby. 

In the aftermath of the storm, thousands of victims suffered injury and displacement, while the affected areas were rendered impassable. 

“In response to the appeal for assistance by Malawian President His Excellency Lazarus Chakwera to his fellow SADC Heads of State and Government, Cabinet has constituted a Disaster Relief Committee led by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to draw up a comprehensive assistance package for disaster-stricken Malawi, ” post cabinet minutes read. 

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“The Committee will liaise with the Government of Malawi on modalities for conveying the relief package.”

Cabinet directed that the mobilization of relief assistance should commence immediately and include 10 000 metric tonnes of mealie meal; cooking oil; blankets;  clothing; construction material for cabins; sanitisers, detergents, bath soaps, stationery and other learning materials.

“To widen the scope of donations to Malawi, the government is encouraging the private sector, national institutions and citizens to donate generously to this worthy cause.” 

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According to the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs, the devastating toll of the floods in Malawi has continued to rise, with at least 438 deaths reported, 918 people injured and 282 missing as of March 17.

The report says that nearly 345 200 people, almost half of them being children, were displaced and sheltered in over 500 camps across flood affected areas, where the risk of cholera in overcrowded camps is high. The Malawian government’ search and rescue operations have continued with more than 1,000 people evacuated by 17 March.

A report by the United Nations Satellite Centre indicated that in an area of 5,000 km² flood waters had increased by about 60km² between March 14 and 17.

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