In the community

Zimparks warns of deadly attacks by wild animals

Published

4 years ago

August 20, 2021

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the community

Foot and mouth disease outbreak in Mat North

Published

2 days ago

December 9, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NIZBERT MOYO

The provincial Veterinary Department has urged farmers to comply with livestock movement regulations following an outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in some parts of Matabeleland North.

Acting provincial veterinarian Gwinyai Zhandire confirmed the outbreak to Southern Eye, saying the government has instituted movement controls, vaccination and active surveillance in the affected areas.

“There are some dip tanks affected in the Nyamandlovu area,” Zhandire said.

“The government has instituted movement controls and vaccination, and we are conducting surveillance.

“Farmers are encouraged to observe and comply with livestock movement regulations to prevent further spread.”

He highlighted that the rainy season increases the risk of other livestock diseases.

With tick populations on the rise, farmers should be vigilant against tick-borne illnesses such as Anaplasmosis (Gall Sickness), Theileriosis (January Disease), Ehrlichiosis (Heartwater) and Babesiosis (Redwater).

“Weekly dipping is encouraged to prevent transmission between animals,” Zhandire said.

He emphasised the importance of routine vaccination against other seasonal threats, including anthrax and lumpy skin diseases.

The outbreak has also affected farmers in the Umguza area, who have similarly been directed to adhere to animal movement restrictions.

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep and goats.

The disease is characterised by fever and the development of painful sores or blisters in the mouth and on the feet, often leading to severe lameness and a drop in productivity.

The virus spreads easily through direct contact between animals, as well as via contaminated equipment, vehicles and feed.

The disease can result in significant economic losses in the livestock industry due to trade restrictions and animal health costs.
Source: Southern Eye

In the community

Brother-in-law jailed for repeated rape of mentally incompetent 16-year-old

Published

2 days ago

December 9, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced a 41‑year‑old man to 20 years’ imprisonment for the repeated rape of his 16‑year‑old sister‑in‑law, a mentally incompetent juvenile.

The court heard that the victim was staying at the offender’s homestead in Lupane. Between November 2024 and May this year, the offender exploited her mental incapacity and his position of trust to rape her on multiple occasions.

In the first incident, the offender’s sister pushed the victim into a bedroom where the offender was waiting, locked the door, removed the victim’s clothes and raped her. He threatened the victim and ordered her to remain silent when she tried to cry out for help.

The abuse continued on various occasions. In May, a community member discovered the abuse and reported it to the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Lupane.

Medical and psychiatric examinations confirmed the victim’s mental status and the ordeal. The offender and his sister assaulted the victim with a sjambok and a stick and threatened her not to disclose the matter.

In the community

Hwange man sentenced to 40 years for raping two minors

Published

1 week ago

December 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A 32-year-old man from Victoria Falls has been convicted by the Hwange Magistrates’ Court and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for raping two minors.

The man, whose name has been hidden to protect the image of the victims was being tried by the prosecutors on two counts of rape leading to the conviction.

The court heard that the accused committed the offences against two young female juveniles, aged nine 10 years old who are sisters on the 25th of September this year.

“The offender who was at his place of residence called the victims who were going to school to come to his place of residence to collect baobab fruits,” the National Prosecuting Authority said in a statement.

“They both got into the offender’s place of residence and the offender instructed the victims to get into his bedroom hut.

The victims complied and the offender followed them into his bedroom and closed the door from inside and raped them.”

The matter came to light on the same day when a relative informed the victim’s grandmother and father that she saw the victims leaving the offenders bedroom and they revealed what had transpired, leading yo his arrest.