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Zimparks warns of deadly attacks by wild animals

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) says villagers living close to wildlife sanctuaries must brace for more deadly attacks by wild animals because the reserves are now overpopulated.

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Tinashe Farawo, Zimparks spokesperson, told VicFallsLive that wild animals such as elephants and buffaloes were increasingly venturing into human settlements to look for food and water where they attacked people.

Farawo’s comments followed pleas by Victoria Falls residents for authorities to take action against the now frequent incidents of elephants straying into their yards where they destroy vegetable gardens.

“Our parks are overpopulated and that’s why we see more elephants now encroaching into people’s territories and killing them,” he said.

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“From this time going forward people should get prepared for more deadly incidences until the next rain season towards year end.”

Last week, an elephant trampled to death two villagers and injured two others in Gokwe district.

A village head from Mbire in Mashonaland Central was also trampled to death by an elephant while stocking sorghum at his homestead.

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Villagers living around Hwange and Zambezi national Parks say stray lions have of late been killing their livestock.

Other animals such as elephants and buffaloes are destroying their vegetable gardens.

They also complained that buffaloes mix with their cattle, which exposes them to disease outbreaks.

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Affected villages are around Dete, Tsholotsho and Victoria Falls in Matabeleland North.

Residents in Victoria Falls’ Chinotimba high density suburbs killed a buffalo that was destroying their vegetables.

The residents said they decided to kill and skin the animal because Zimparks was taking too long to react to distress calls about problem animals.

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On Tuesday night, a herd of five elephants was spotted in the city centre near the Shoestring backpacker’s lodge and night club.

Another elephant that was terrorisng Chinotimba and Mkhosana residents was gunned down by Zimparks rangers after destroying multiple vegetable gardens.

Farawo said the country’s estimated 100 000 elephants, mainly found at the Hwange National Park, must be culled urgently to reduce the population.

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The Environment ministry has proposed the culling of elephants to reduce their population.

Zimbabwe last culled elephants in 1988 but the exercise was heavily criticised by animal rights groups across the world.

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In the community

Painted Dog Conservation and Uncommon bring free coding school to Gwai Valley Primary

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), in partnership with technology-driven organisation Uncommon, is set to establish a free coding school at Gwai Valley Primary in Lupane District, marking a new chapter in community empowerment and education.

Speaking during an interview with VicFallsLive, PDC operations director, David Kuvawoga said the initiative stems from the organisation’s long-term work with local schools through its children’s bush camps.

“In our quest to find solutions to the poaching crisis, and building on the work we’ve done with schools over the years, we identified Gwai Primary as a good location to start a coding school,” he explained. “We partnered with Uncommon, which already runs facilities in Harare and Victoria Falls, to bring this opportunity closer to rural communities.”

The school will be housed in container units equipped with computers and other necessary technology. According to PDC, the project will be led by youths from the Gwai community who underwent year-long training in Victoria Falls and are now prepared to teach children — and adults — the fundamentals of coding.

“This is not just for schoolchildren,” the operations director said. “Anyone in the community with the passion to learn can join. What matters is the interest and commitment, not formal qualifications.”

Importantly, the programme will be free of charge. Both organisations confirmed that tuition, equipment, and running costs are fully covered through fundraising efforts.

“No one is going to pay a cent,” he said. “Just like our bush camps, which host over a thousand children every year without charge, this coding school is fully funded. All the community needs to do is embrace it.”

PDC has previously supported communities through projects such as boreholes and gardens, but this marks its first major investment in technology. The director said the initiative has the potential to address unemployment, improve education, and give local youth world-class digital skills.

“Coding is a highly sought-after skill across the world,” he noted. “If young people here can learn it, they can secure jobs or even create employment for others. This is a brick in the foundation of uplifting Lupane, Hwange, and beyond.”

The coding school is expected to open in December at Gwai Valley Primary.

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Lupane police officer sentenced for tampering with mbanje evidence

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

A 21-year-old constabulary officer in Lupane has been convicted after admitting he tampered with evidence in a drug possession case, effectively helping a suspect conceal part of the stash.

The officer, Nqobile Mutale, was on duty at Lupane Terminus Base on the 18th of September when he arrested Thulani Sibanda, who had been implicated in unlawful possession of dagga/imbanje. Instead of handing over the full exhibit, Mutale struck a deal with Sibanda and hid part of the recovered drugs behind the police base.

Detectives later uncovered the hidden dagga, with Mutale leading them to the site during investigations.

Standing before the Lupane Magistrates’ Court, Mutale pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice. He was handed a 24-month sentence, with nine months suspended. The balance of 15 months was also suspended, provided he completes 525 hours of community service.

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In the community

Avoid nightime movement and stoning elephants, communities told

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Following a recent spate of human-wildlife conflict incidents, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo has urged communities to exercise caution when encountering wild animals.

Farawo emphasized the importance of avoiding confrontations with elephants, particularly when they encroach into community areas. “We would like to urge members of the communities to avoid throwing stones at elephants,” he said. “This action agitates them, leading to attacks on people.”

In addition to avoiding confrontations, Farawo advised community members to minimize movement at night, as this is when wild animals are most active. “We would like to urge communities to avoid moving at night to minimize casualties,” he said.

Farawo’s comments come after a 79-year-old man from Hwange was killed by an elephant yesterday. The incident is still under investigation by rangers. This is the second fatal incident in the area, following the death of another man who was attacked by an elephant while on his way to work in Hwange town several weeks ago.

 

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