BY NOMVELO SIZIBA
WHAT IS KEY: Ward 11 communities say awareness campaigns must be backed by quicker intervention and better protection measures
While conservationists are urging calm when elephants enter Mkhosana and Mfelandawonye, residents of Ward 11 say reducing human-wildlife conflict will require more than awareness campaigns, citing the absence of night patrols, delayed responses from authorities and confusion over who is responsible for dealing with problem animals.
The concerns emerged during a Connected Conservation human-wildlife conflict awareness meeting held on Thursday last week in Mkhosana, where residents gathered to discuss growing encounters with elephants and other dangerous wildlife.
“We need police patrolling at night again”
For Mkhosana resident Thomas Nkomazana, the absence of police night patrols has increased the risk faced by residents who walk home late at night.
“Nowadays people travel very late at night especially those who drink at bars,” Nkomazana said.
He recalled an incident involving an elephant that killed a man near a Zion Christian Church (ZCC) congregation site last year.
“That elephant was chasing one of my cousins. He called me telling me that an elephant was chasing him. I asked him where he was coming from that late and he said he was coming from drinking at Mukali Bar. He managed to hide inside the ZCC church and then the elephant killed the next person it met near that church,” he said.
“So we need police officers to start patrolling again to avoid people walking very late at night.”
The death Nkomazana referred to is among a series of fatal elephant encounters reported in and around Victoria Falls in recent years.
“Sometimes they delay or don’t come at all”
Resident Ania Sibanda said communities often struggle to get timely assistance when elephants enter residential areas.
“Sometimes when we see an elephant we call ZimParks (Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority), they delay to come or sometimes they don’t come at all,” Sibanda said.
She said the situation has left some residents feeling vulnerable, particularly members of apostolic sects who frequently conduct prayers in bush areas where wildlife is present.
Sibanda recounted an incident involving a fellow church member who was reportedly praying in the Mfelandawonye area earlier this year when he became aware of movement nearby.
According to Sibanda, the man opened his eyes and saw an elephant approaching. She said he felt the animal was too close for him to escape and remained lying on the ground after initially kneeling in prayer.
She said the elephant reportedly broke a branch from a nearby tree, placed it on top of him and then walked away without causing harm.
Sibanda said the incident highlighted the dangers faced by people who worship in bush areas and reinforced the need for quicker responses to reports of problem animals.
“We are caught in the middle”
Another resident, Mehluli Dube, said communities often receive conflicting information about which authority is responsible when elephants enter residential areas.
“Sometimes as the community we have met with scenarios where we are told that when an elephant has entered inside the community it’s the duty of the City Council to handle it. But when we call the City Council, they will be like that is the duty of ZimParks,” Dube said.
The uncertainty, he said, leaves residents feeling compelled to deal with the animals themselves.
Conservationists strongly discourage such actions.
During the meeting, Connected Conservation representative Samson Gwedla urged residents to remain calm during elephant encounters and avoid provoking the animals.
He warned against throwing stones, crowding around elephants or attempting to take selfies, saying such behaviour can increase the risk of attacks.
Instead, he encouraged residents to alert ZimParks and keep a safe distance while authorities respond.
