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Victims of human-wildlife conflict still await compensation from the Government, despite nearly two years having passed since the Cabinet resolved to establish a Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund (HWCRF).
The fund is intended to cover various aspects, including funeral assistance for casualties of human-wildlife conflict, hospitalization and treatment for the injured, and support programs aimed at reducing deaths caused by animals and assisting affected families and communities.
In 2023, over 35 people lost their lives due to wildlife encounters, and more than 80 were injured across the country.
Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister Sithembiso Nyoni recently acknowledged legislative gaps that have hindered the compensation process for victims of human-wildlife conflict.
In response to a question from Hwange East opposition MP Joseph Bonda (CCC) regarding the government’s compensation policy for communities residing near Hwange Parks—those who have suffered losses of domestic livestock and human lives due to human-wildlife conflict—Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni stated (<a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/no-compensation-for-human-wildlife-conflict-victims-yet-due-to-legislation-gaps/">via NewZimbabwe.com</a>):
<blockquote>
On compensation to people who lose a life, recalling Cabinet’s decision of 4th November 2022 to establish a Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund, (HWCRF) to provide monetary relief to verified and proven victims of Human-Wildlife conflict.
The current Parks Act does not have any provision for compensation of victims or the afflicted, hence the need to expedite the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, which provides for the establishment of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund.
</blockquote>
Nyoni said that in the absence of a Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), Rural District Councils (RDCs) and other stakeholders are assisting people affected by human-wildlife conflict in various ways. She said:
<blockquote>
My ministry is seized with and is in the process of establishing the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund. A point of emphasis to the Hon. Members is that there can never be any compensation for any lost life. I commiserate with the loss of human life in encounters between humans and wildlife.
However, the communities that live close to national parks face tragedy due to the increased wildlife population.
To give you a vivid picture Madam Speaker, in Matabeleland North, the elephant population has increased from 49 310 to 61 531. This was from 2021 to 2022 an increase of 12 221 and this was based on an aerial survey.
</blockquote>
Nyoni expressed concern over the international ivory trade ban imposed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This ban has led to a surge in the elephant population across the country’s game parks.
The Minister also revealed that Zimbabwe possesses a substantial ivory stock, valued at US$700 million, which unfortunately cannot be sold due to the existing ban.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

No Compensation For Human-wildlife Conflict Victims

In the tranquil fishing community of Gatche Gatche, nestled along the shores of Lake Kariba, a chilling legend has taken root.
Residents speak in hushed tones of a crocodile with supernatural powers—a creature that has allegedly claimed the lives of more than 21 people, primarily fishermen.
But it’s not the sheer number of victims that sets this reptile apart; it’s the gruesome manner of their demise.
Locals have christened this elusive giant reptile as “Macheni” because of the crocodile’s peculiar taste for human private parts.
Victims consistently lose these intimate body parts, while the rest of their bodies remain untouched.
Some even speculate that Macheni is no ordinary predator. Instead, it serves as a weapon, wielded by an individual possessing potent “magical powers.”
This mysterious figure allegedly employs the harvested private parts for dark arts.
Kariba residents, who shared their accounts with <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/the-terror-of-kariba-with-a-taste-for-human-private-partszimparks-spokesperson-tinashe-farawo-responding-to-h-metro-enquiries-has-told-this-newspaper-that-residents-of-the-affe/">H-Metro</a>, insist that Macheni is no mere crocodile. They believe it is a phantom, slipping through the murky waters undetected.
Officials from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) have reportedly struggled to track down and eliminate this enigmatic creature.
Residents also allege that most, if not all, of the attacks have occurred in a concentrated region.
Tinashe Farawo, Zimparks spokesperson, acknowledges the community’s belief that Macheni transcends the natural realm. He said:
<blockquote>
A total of 32 lives were lost from crocodile attacks in Lake Kariba, between Sanyati River and the Lake Kariba Dam Wall, between 2016 and 2023.
Between 2016 and 2023, 38 crocodiles were eliminated during the same period. Over 40 crocodiles were also captured and translocated.
As from 2019, legal and illegal gill netting fishers in Gatche Gatche area assumed that crocodile attacks taking place in the Tsetse Island general area were caused by one crocodile.
While the fact that the attacks are caused by only one crocodile remains an assumption, efforts have been made by Zimparks to assess the area and to eliminate suspect crocodiles in the general area.
The community has named the alleged crocodile “Macheni.” Reasons for the assumption that the crocodile attacks were caused by one crocodile emanated from the fact that most of the attacks were taking place in one general area.
“The fishers have a belief that the crocodile is a spiritual crocodile and this is the reason they named it “Macheni,” since they claim that the crocodile used to only remove testicles from men after the attack.”
</blockquote>
Farawo said that their observations have revealed that the crocodile attacks in this area were generally taking place at night. He added:
<blockquote>
Gill netting at night is not allowed, it is actually conducted by poachers. The area of concern is not a legal fishing ground, which they also called “Macheni Bay”. Illegal fishers usually delay giving reports of attacks and this makes follow up difficult.
The reasons why most of the attacks were taking place in this general area were that many people were flocking to this area to do illegal fishing, this is probably because they were enjoying good fish catches in this area.
It is also a fact that crocodiles also feed on fish and they also tend to flock areas with more fish and this has caused this conflict. 
More than 7 crocodiles have been eliminated in the general area between 2020 and 2023, however, the Gatche Gatche community has maintained that the alleged “Macheni” is still alive. 
Several attempts to eliminate the alleged crocodile were done way after the crocodile attacks, since all reports are received days after the attacks, making the searches difficult. 
We have also called upon the Gatche Gatche community to help to identify the alleged crocodile so that we eliminate it once it has been spotted.
We are continuing working with the fishers association to identification of the alleged crocodile.
</blockquote>
Farawo said between December and January this year, Zimparks intensified anti-poaching patrols at Tsetse Island and removed all poachers, who periodically put illegal shelters.
He said since then, no person has been attacked by crocodiles at the alleged “Macheni Bay”.
Farawo added that once the specific crocodile is positively identified, Zimparks will take decisive action to eliminate the threat it poses.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

“Macheni”: The Enigmatic Crocodile Of Lake Kariba That Allegedly Feeds On Human Privates

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has awarded US$10 000 and scholarships to two courageous siblings from Mhondoro who rescued their mother from the jaws of a crocodile in January this year.
The President met the two children, Peace and Luckmore Magaya, on Saturday, 02 March at State House in Harare where he lavished them with gifts for their rare act of bravery.
Posting on social media site X (formerly Twitter), the Head of State said it is imperative to teach bravery and compassion to the youth. He wrote:
<blockquote>
Today I met two brave young heroes, Peace and Luckmore Magaya, from Mhondoro. They saved their mother from a crocodile attack. Inspired by their courage, I’ve taken on their education fees and awarded them $5,000 each. Let’s nurture such bravery and compassion in our youth.
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GHqMh1KWQAAF63x?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/>
</blockquote>
In January this year, the brother and sister, aged 12 and 10, took on the reptile as it dragged their mother into a river.
A video of the siblings recounting the encounter went viral on social media early this year.
Narrating the encounter, one of the children explained how they instinctively challenged one of the world’s most powerful and dangerous reptiles to save their mother’s life. Said the boy:
<blockquote>
We saw her being dragged into the river by a crocodile. This is when we found a long stick which we stretched towards her and pulled her out. It tried to attack her on the leg and I blocked the crocodile by inserting a hand in the mouth, preventing it from pulling her into the river.
</blockquote>
The younger sister then placed a leg on the crocodile’s head and attacked its eyes with a stick, forcing it to let go and retreat into the water.
The children managed to drag their mother out of the water and after noticing injuries to one of her legs, they called for help, and a villager assisted her back home.
In a post on X, the Office of the President said the scholarship awarded to the siblings covers their education needs up to tertiary education. Reads the post:
<blockquote>
H.E. President @edmnangagwa awards scholarships to 2 children who rescued their mother from the jaws of a crocodile in Mhondoro in January this year. The President applauded the children for their heroic prowess and gifted each with 5 000 dollars.
The scholarship covers their education needs up to tertiary education. Luckmore &amp; Peace Magaya narrated their chilling experience to the President revealing that the young girl, Peace, got on top of the crocodile &amp; pricked the crocodile’s eyes whilst Luckmore pulled the mother.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ED Rewards Young Siblings Who Saved Mum From Crocodile... US$10 000 Plus Scholarships

Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Evelyn Ndlovu, said that she was forced to vacate her house in Gwanda town because of marauding troops of baboons.
As reported by the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200023279/briefs-minister-flees-baboons-menace">Southern Eye</a>, Ndlovu said baboons are giving residents of Gwanda sleepless nights as they are getting into people’s houses in search of food and water.
She implored the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to address the challenge. Said Ndlovu:
<blockquote>
Wild animals are destroying people’s crops, killing people and cattle which is not a good thing…
This needs to be addressed because we have had baboons coming into the homesteads in Gwanda.
l myself left my house in Gwanda because l cannot stay there due to the fact that there is no peace.
Winter crops have been destroyed and l think electric fences should be put up to keep the wild animals away.
</blockquote>
In November 2023, a full-grown male baboon mauled an 18-month-old baby as it tried to drag him away into a bush in West Nicholson in Gwanda District.
The mother of the child, Petronella Moyo (22), ran after the baboon that had snatched her child from a room, forcing it to dump him and flee.
The animal sank its teeth into the baby twice and left him badly wounded after dragging him on the ground for about 50 metres.
The boy was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he received treatment and was vaccinated against rabies.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Marauding Baboons Force Minister To Vacate Home

The 30-year-old female security guard who died following an attack by an elephant while at work in Hwange on Friday was not equipped to safely discharge her duties, it has emerged.
The now-deceased Lydia Dube was deployed alone at night without a firearm or a radio communication system.
This was said by Farai Maguwu, the founding Director of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG). <a href="https://x.com/FMaguwu/status/1728842793240736138?s=20">He posted on X Sunday</a>:
<blockquote>
Lydia Dube (30), was tragically killed by an elephant whilst guarding a broken down crane at Chaba mine in Hwange yesterday.
She was deployed alone at night without a firearm. She also did not have a radio communication system. Perhaps they wanted her to defend the machine with her body.
She is survived by her daughter. Human-wildlife conflict is now rife in Hwange due to various factors which may include climate change and mining near national parks.
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F_4TrRwXgAAcRfY?format=jpg&amp;name=medium"/>
</blockquote>
According to a report by <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/female-security-guard-dies-after-elephant-attack/">The Sunday News</a>, Lydia Dube was pronounced dead on arrival at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo on Saturday after being transferred from Hwange Colliery Hospital.
The killer elephant has since been put down by Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management (Zimparks) rangers.
A source was quoted as saying Dube who was employed as a security guard was on duty where she was guarding a broken-down crane at Chaba Mine. Said the source:
<blockquote>
She saw an elephant a distance away and disembarked from the machine she was guarding to go to the guard room.
Unbeknown to her, there was an elephant lurking behind her that attacked her before she got to the guard room leaving her for dead.
She was discovered still alive but seriously injured.
</blockquote>
Dube was reportedly rushed to Hwange Colliery Hospital where her condition deteriorated before being transferred to Mpilo where she succumbed to the injuries on arrival.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Female Security Guard Killed By Elephant In Hwange Was Alone At Night, And Had No Firearm Or Radio - Maguwu

Animals in Zimbabwe are suffering from starvation and dying at a young age due to longer droughts. According to <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tinashe_Farawo/">Tinashe Farawo</a>, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS), the animals become stuck in mud as they desperately search for water.
In Gonarezhou National Park, signs of distress can be seen, such as damaged trees from elephants searching for food and water. Farawo has received reports of similar anguish from other national parks, indicating the severity of the situation. <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/longer-droughts-in-zimbabwe-take-a-toll-on-wildlife-cause-more-frequent-clashes-with-people/">NewZimbabwe</a> quotes him as saying:
<blockquote>
It’s normal for animals to die, but now they are dying young. They starve, they die. They get stuck in the mud desperately looking for water and they die. It’s heartbreaking.
</blockquote>
According to Farawo, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is still gathering data, but in Hwange, the country’s biggest park, 15 elephants and 16 buffaloes died in just one week this month. The dry periods are getting longer and harsher. In the past, Zimbabwe’s rainy season was consistent from October to March, but in recent years, it has become unpredictable, sometimes starting as late as December. He added:
<blockquote>
Climate change is turning out to be our biggest challenge. Weather patterns have become unpredictable, so animals often have no food and water. Right now we are in November and most of the country still has no rains.
</blockquote>
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Tinashe Farawo stated that the drought has intensified conflicts between humans and wildlife in Zimbabwe as they compete for scarce water. He said:
<blockquote>
High temperatures, poor forage, water shortages resulted in some deaths of elephants and buffaloes. Since September, 94 elephants have died in the Hwange Matetsi block. There is nothing to write home about considering the population of elephants in Hwange. There has been an increase of human-elephant conflicts in communities as animals compete for water with communities. We have recorded some cases where elephants are chasing away cattle from the water points.
</blockquote>
Climate change is having severe impacts on Zimbabwe’s national parks and wildlife. Studies show that extreme weather events, longer dry spells, and hotter temperatures are causing the loss of plants and animals.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has installed solar-powered boreholes to provide water for animals, but with surface water drying up, animals are forced to travel long distances in search of food and water. The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area allows animals to migrate freely across multiple countries.
Elephants are particularly affected, facing bacterial infections and resource depletion due to overpopulation. Birds also suffer as their breeding cycles are disrupted by the consumption of trees by herbivores. Human-animal conflicts are on the rise, with communities struggling to put food on the table and animals encroaching on settlements. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

"Animals In Zimbabwe Dying At A Young Age Due To Longer Droughts" - ZIMPARKS

A full-grown male baboon mauled an 18-month-old baby as it tried to drag him away into a bush in West Nicholson in Gwanda District on Thursday last week.
The mother of the child, Petronella Moyo (22), ran after the baboon that had snatched her child from a room, forcing it to dump him and flee.
The animal sank its teeth into the baby twice and left him badly wounded after dragging him on the ground for about 50 metres.
The boy is admitted to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he is receiving treatment and has been vaccinated against rabies.
Moyo told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/woman-rescues-baby-from-jaws-of-a-baboon/">Chronicle</a> that she was in her bedroom and the child was in another room when she suddenly heard him screaming. She said:
<blockquote>
Some baboons came to our area in the morning and the neighbours made some efforts to chase them away. I was in my bedroom and my son was in the sitting room.
I heard my son crying and when I checked on him I saw a baboon holding him by the leg and fleeing.
Without thinking I pursued the baboon and at the same time I was screaming to scare it. It was dragging my son on the ground along the way and he was crying and screaming in pain.
As I closed in, after a distance of about 50 metres the baboon dropped my son on the ground and it fled.
My son was seriously injured as the baboon bit him twice and he also sustained bruises from being dragged on the ground.
The animal was very violent. I feared that it would tear my child into pieces. However, I was determined to save him at all costs.
He got stitches to bring together open wounds and nurses cleaned up the injuries every day and dressed them.
His condition has greatly improved and he is no longer in great pain.
</blockquote>
A resident from Gwanda Town said that it no longer feels safe to leave her children unattended while playing after a baboon once snatched her baby while he was playing and threw her down shortly afterwards.
Baboons reportedly started flocking to the area around 2007 and have since become a menace.
Residents said that the wild animals are very calculative and constantly display traits of humans such as opening doors and taps and leaving water running.
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1000px"><img alt="" decoding="async" height="750" loading="lazy" src="https://www.zimlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/baboon-victim-02.jpg" width="1000"/><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Petronella Moyo with the baby who was saved from baboon at Gwanda Provincial Hospital (VOA PHOTO/Albert Ncube)</figcaption></figure>
They said they have failed to run income-generating projects such as orchards, poultry and gardens as baboons eat the produce.
The baboons are also causing havoc at Gwanda Provincial Hospital, St Christopher’s Primary School, Mount Cazalet Primary School and Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, visited Moyo and Gwanda Provincial Hospital where she urged the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) to deal with the baboons.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Baboon Mauls 18-month-old Baby In Gwanda

Some learners in the Kanyemba area, located in Mashonaland Central Province, are no longer going to school for fear they will be attacked by wild animals.
The area is located in the Mbire District on the south bank of the Zambezi River at the meeting point of the Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia borders.
Farirai Majaya, a parent from the Chapoto area in Kanyemba told <a href="https://thestandard.newsday.co.zw/news/article/200009973/dangerous-animals-force-children-out-of-schools">The Standard</a> that they would rather keep their children at home than put them in harm’s way by sending them to school. He said:
<blockquote>
When they go to school, we are not guaranteed that they will arrive safely or they will be able to come back alive.
There is always that risk that they will encounter wild animals along the way and we can’t risk losing our children.
We know they deserve a better future, but the risk of sending them to school is just something we can’t afford.
It has become a common phenomenon that most children to abscond school and one of the major reasons is the fear of being attacked by wild animals along the way, especially during the rainy and harvesting seasons.
</blockquote>
At Mariga Primary School which has an enrolment of over 300 pupils, more than half of the students are not attending school regularly.
Village head Clever Kaputi said the most affected areas are Mariga and Chiramba villages in Kanyemba’s Ward 1 area.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) secretary-general Robson Chere said:
<blockquote>
We have had several cases of learners not being able to attend school due to human-wildlife conflict and this also applies to areas such as Kanyemba.
These cases also extend to areas such as Kariba, Siakobvu, Binga and Hwange.
Two years ago, there were cases of hyena attacks were recorded in Buhera, Manicaland Province and some of the victims were school children.
</blockquote>
Tinashe Chisaira, director of Adovactes4Earth, a nonprofit environmental law, climate and wildlife justice organisation, said human-wildlife conflict can negatively affect school attendance, but in “rare circumstances”. He added:
<blockquote>
The situation is obviously different in cases of certain problem animals such as the occasional man-eater, and the lion.
There is a need to come up with policies and actions that respect traditional wildlife habitats and migration zones and pathways.
Human settlements must not continue to encroach into wildlife areas.
</blockquote>
The Parks and Wildlife Act classifies lions, elephants, hippos, leopards, buffaloes and rhinoceros as dangerous animals.
Statistics from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) indicate that in 2022, the human-wildlife conflict resulted in the death of 66 people compared to 68 in 2021.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Wild Animals Force Children Out Of Schools In Mbire

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has recorded a slight decrease in the number of people killed by wild animals since last year, reported the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local-news/article/200009926/human-wildlife-conflicts-rise-in-hwange">Southern Eye</a>.
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said that 15 people were killed by wild animals during the first quarter of 2023 compared to 22 killed during the same period last year. Said Farawo:
<blockquote>
We have noticed a slight decrease in the number of people who have been killed by wild animals since last year.
Last year, we lost about 22 lives in the first quarter compared to 15 during the same period this year.
</blockquote>
ZimParks said it trans-located 150 elephants in Hwange in the first quarter of 2023, the same as last year, as a way of dealing with overpopulation.
According <a href="https://bmcecol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12898-020-00319-1#:~:text=The%20cause%20of%20human%20wildlife,and%20deforestation%20in%20national%20park.">to a study</a>, the root causes of human–wildlife conflicts include agricultural expansion (30%), human settlement (24%), overgrazing by livestock (14%), deforestation (18%), illegal grass collection (10%) and poaching (4%).
An international ban on the trade in wildlife products and species has been blamed for an increase in the elephant population in Hwange National Park.
According to ZimParks, the elephant population in the game park is more than 50 000, far beyond its holding capacity of at least 15 000.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Number Of People Killed By Wild Animals Falls

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Parks_%26_Wildlife_Management_Authority">Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)</a> spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, has said there were 15 deaths and 43 injuries due to human-wildlife conflict in the first three months of 2023. Last year during the same period, there were 22 deaths and 18 injuries.
Zimbabwe has too many elephants, with around 84 000 exceeding the country’s carrying capacity of 45 000. The ban on the trade in wildlife products and species in Southern Africa has contributed to the ballooning elephant population. 
This has caused an increase in human-wildlife conflict. The elephants are coming into human settlements in search of food and water, causing problems. Farawo said more distress calls were also received this year compared to last year. <a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2023/04/06/human-wildlife-conflict-claims-15-in-first-quarter/">ZBC News</a> cites him as saying:
<blockquote>
We have noticed a slight decline in terms of people who have been killed by wild animals from last year. Last year we lost about 22 lives in the first quarter and this year we are at 15. The numbers still remain high if you consider instances that we are still recording. Last year we managed to translocate about 95 animals and this year we have already trans-located 150 animals. This is a way of dealing with human-wildlife conflict within our community. There are also cattle, donkeys and goats that were also killed by wild animals. We will continue to engage communities, teaching them about animal behaviour, and what needs to be done with certain species. We are always on the ground and we are also working with a lot of Rural District Councils to which we have given appropriate authority, so it’s not only the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority which needs to react to this problem.
</blockquote>
Traditional leaders from Chief Shana’s area are worried about the threat of human-wildlife conflict to food security in Hwange District. Village Head, Amos Tolani, from Jabula Village-Chief Mvuthu, said that baboons are destroying their crops, despite good results from the Pfumvudza/Intwasa program in the 2022/23 season. They are calling on Zimparks to relocate problem animals deep into national parks, compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict, pay medical bills, and increase the number of scouts or game rangers in each ward to react quickly if wild animals are seen in communities.
The pending Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Elephant Aerial Survey results could provide proof that Southern African countries’ appeal to lift the ban on ivory and wildlife species trade is genuine.
A total of 66 people were killed by wild animals last year, down from 68 the year before. However, authorities report that nearly 400 people have died due to human-wildlife conflict in the past five years.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Zimbabwe Records 15 Deaths Due To Human-wildlife Conflict During 1st Quarter Of 2023

The USAID Resilience Anchors has provided a clean water point for villagers in Ward 23 in Nyangambe village 2, Chiredzi, who were forced to travel long distances in search of safe water sources.
More than 600 inhabitants of the dry and arid community of Nyangambe valley conservancy were exposed to attacks by wildlife due to the long distances they had to travel to fetch water from open ponds, exposing them to waterborne diseases.
The installation of a solar-powered water point for the community by the USAID Resilience Anchors has been a boon for villagers.
The boreholes were installed as part of efforts to improve access to water for multi-purpose use and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Svodai Musaingira (46), who came to the area as a bride many years ago, told <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/news/article/200009274/water-project-offers-lifeline-for-arid-chiredzi-communities">Southern Eye</a> that they had been prone to wildlife attacks within the conservancy. She said:
<blockquote>
Before the start of this project, we had to walk over 5km in the early hours of the morning in search of water.
We would come back with large buckets of water on our heads so we would be able to sustain our families.
We have also been prone to attacks by wildlife within the conservancy as they would come out in their numbers to terrorise us.
But looking at it from another angle they would also be in search of clean water to drink.
We were frequently exposed to cholera because we would get water from dirty ponds, which animals such as dogs also relied on.
We now have access to clean water therefore we no longer have cases of cholera outbreaks.
</blockquote>
Another beneficiary of the project, Canias Chikamhi (53) who is the chairperson of the Nyangambe water point said:
<blockquote>
The water situation in our community was so bad that it was difficult for someone to access at least 20 litres of water.
We were happy when the Resilience Anchors came in and offered to help out with our situation.
Parents had to walk as long as 5km in search of water. Those distances could only be accessed by those with scotch carts. Children would also misbehave with those scotch carts leading to accidents.
Since we now have access to clean and potable water, we have not yet come across cases of cholera in the present day.
I cannot specifically remember how many years it has been since we experienced cholera, maybe six years back.
</blockquote>
Cases of human-wildlife conflict have been on the rise in recent years and this has been attributed to a population increase of both humans and wildlife, the effects of climate change, deforestation, illegal cutting of grass, and general mismanagement of natural resources.
Nyangambe Wildlife conservancy vice chairperson Joram Mutovo told Southern Eye said the water point project has greatly reduced human and wildlife conflict.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

USAID Water Project A Boon For Dry Chiredzi Communities

One of the two lions that have been killing livestock in Hwange has been put down, with authorities tracking the other one.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the development to <a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2023/03/09/problem-lion-killed-in-hwange/">ZBC News.</a> He said:
<blockquote>
Our Zimparks reaction team together with Hwange Rural District Council have reacted to two problem animals in the area, and they managed to eliminate one lion.
These lions were killing cattle within the locality and we are still on the ground with the view of eliminating the remaining lion.
</blockquote>
Last month, <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2023/01/17/zimparks-rangers-put-down-problem-elephant-in-victoria-falls/">Zimparks rangers killed an elephant that had been wreaking havoc in Victoria Falls</a>.
Human-wildlife conflict is common in communities that are near game parks and reserves and this has resulted in the death of people.
In 2022, about four people were trampled to death by elephants in Victoria Falls alone.
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

One Of Two Problem Lions In Hwange Put Down By Zimparks

Villagers in Ward 37 in Mberengwa District, Midlands Province, have been warned against walking at dawn and dusk because of marauding hyenas that have invaded their community.
A villager, Luckson Pasipanodya, said the hyenas haven’t attacked people yet but they have already killed donkeys, goats, sheep, and calves.
The most affected areas are villages, Nungirai, Chivasa, Pararai and around Gwai Primary School, Makwava Primary, Chapungu Secondary and Mundi-Mataga Dam area under Chief Chingoma. Said Pasipanodya:
<blockquote>
These hyenas are surely causing a headache to us as villagers. Goats, sheep and donkeys are at the mercy of these animals. We have never had them in such a big number.
This time there are many and are sure to leave us poorer and hungry as donkeys form part of our draught power.
They haven’t attacked people but fears are that they may pounce on children and those that may be travelling to catch buses at dawn.
</blockquote>
Villagers said they do not know where the wild animals came from but suspect that they migrated from farms in the Sovelele area in Mwenezi and Makhado into Mberengwa.
MP for Mberengwa South Tasara Hungwe said they engaged the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) for help in dealing with the hyena menace and the teams were in the area. He said:
<blockquote>
The hyenas have been a problem for some time but now the issue has escalated as people are losing livestock almost on a daily basis and people are even scared for their lives at this point.
We have engaged the Zimparks team and we hope they can do something to scare them away because people’s livestock is at risk.
</blockquote>
Nungirai village head Wilbert Pasipanodya said the hyena menace will only get worse as the environment seems to be good for their breeding on a massive scale. | <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/hyenas-cause-havoc-in-mberengwa/">The Sunday News</a>

Hyenas Cause Havoc In Mberengwa

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) says a man believed to be in his early 40s was killed and eaten by a crocodile while fishing with his colleague in the Runde River around the Chiredzi area at night.
Zimpark rangers then hunted down the killer crocodile, almost 4 metres long, and eliminated it before ripping open its stomach to recover the remains of the victim, who is yet to be identified.
Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zimparks-rangers-kill-runde-croc-after-reptile-eats-fisherman/">The Herald</a> and warned members of the public to be wary of crocodiles on water bodies. Farawo said:
<blockquote>
We have received an unfortunate incident where a man in his 40s was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing in Runde River. Our team of alert rangers trekked and killed the problem animal.
We want to encourage people to treat every water body with suspicion, especially during the current rainy season.
Information that we have at the moment is that the deceased fisherman was in the company of another colleague and the pair was fishing in the Runde River at night when the problem crocodile pounced.
</blockquote>

Man Eaten By Crocodile While Fishing At Night

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has put down an elephant that was destroying crops and fruit trees in the Mkhosana and Mfelandawonye suburbs of Victoria Falls.
Over the weekend, Zimparks rangers reacted to a distress call by the community and put down the lone elephant.
A resident told ZBC News that the elephant was destroying gardens, fields, orchards and perimeter fences. Said the resident:
<blockquote>
We are grateful to Zimparks for listening to our plight and the patrols they are making in our areas. Let them continue and increase such.
We are very happy, the elephant was a real problem and it was destroying our fruit trees, mangoes and paw paws and others.
We had resorted to putting elephant dung on our crops to scare them away.
</blockquote>
A commentator on wildlife issues Bulisani Mathe gave an insight into circumstances that warrant an animal to be put down. Mathe said:
<blockquote>
It is not in the best interest of conservationists to put down wild animals, but there are times when it has to happen. 
When a wild animal becomes a threat to human life and property and when it’s injured beyond recovery through human intervention such as snares, it has to be put down before it kills people or damages more property.
</blockquote>
Cases of human-wildlife conflict have been on the rise in Zimbabwe over the past few years as animals frequent human settlements in search of food and water.
In 2022, about four people were trampled to death by elephants in Victoria Falls.
Over the years, Zimbabwe’s elephant population has ballooned to around 85 000, surpassing the country’s carrying capacity of 45 000. | <a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2023/01/16/problem-elephant-put-down-in-victoria-falls/">ZBC News</a>

Zimparks Rangers Put Down Problem Elephant In Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe’s human-wildlife conflict compensation scheme has been met with skepticism by various stakeholders.
Last month the government said it will establish a fund that will be used to compensate people who would have been attacked by wild animals.
The Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund for Victims in Zimbabwe is expected to cover death, maiming, and injuries.
Windas Sianene, a human-wildlife conflict victim from Binga, told VicFallsLive that he has not received any help from the government.
Sianene (43) from Binga had his left leg and arm bitten off by a crocodile on the morning of 28 September 2022 after he jumped into the Mlibizi River.
He was fleeing from five elephants that had approached him as he was fishing with friends.
The father-of-three was attacked by the crocodile as he tried to swim to safety.
Sianene survived by jumping on the back of the reptile and shoving his arm down its throat to make it gag until he was rescued.
He was initially taken to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo – about 436 kilometres from his home in Binga.
Both his legs and left arm were amputated in a botched operation and his relatives took him to Zambia after his wounds failed to heal.
Sianene was amputated on both legs again in Zambia. He said:
<blockquote>
I have not been helped by anyone from the government.
They tried to contact me soon after the incident, but I have not heard anything from them since then.
It’s only well-wishers that have been assisting me (with food and medical fees).
</blockquote>
The Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund for Victims in Zimbabwe is supposed to assist people like Sianene.
Blessing Matasva, a co-founder of the Green Institute Trust that has been monitoring human-wildlife conflicts in Manicaland province, said:
<blockquote>
We have our reservations in terms of how the fund is going to operate since the government has highlighted that it is a self-funding mechanism.
We are worried that there won’t be enough money flowing into the fund.
Issues of regulatory frameworks protecting the funds need to be addressed because there is an issue of the limit to say who is going to get compensated.
</blockquote>
Given Moyo, a councillor in one of the wards in Hwange district that bears the brunt of the human wild conflicts said:
<blockquote>
We have been advocating for communities to benefit from their natural resources, including elephants that are being sold to Asian countries.
Elephants also destroy crops and we have been lobbying that they are culled so that the meat is given to starving people in the communities, but our pleas have been ignored.
We are worried about the recently announced compensation scheme because it does not address the real issues that communities are facing.
We want the compensation fund to be backed by law so that victims and communities can hold those in power to account when they don’t deliver.
We cannot celebrate a fund that is not complete when people’s crops are being destroyed year after year and lives are lost due to the mismanagement of natural resources.
</blockquote>
In Botswana, the government pays transport and medical costs for victims of attacks by wild animals.
In the event of death, the victim’s family is given money to cover funeral costs and loss of income.
Farmers who lose livestock or their crops to wildlife are also compensated. | <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/zimbabwes-human-wildlife-conflict-compensation-scheme-met-with-scepticism/">VicFallsLive</a>

Zim's Human Wildlife Conflict Compensation Scheme Met With Scepticism

An unknown woman was trampled to death by an elephant before her remains were devoured by hyenas on Nyakasanga Bridge on Wednesday, police have said.
According to a statement issued by the police, the woman’s remains were found scattered at the 321 km peg along Harare–Chirundu Road.
Police are now appealing for information that may lead to the identification of the woman. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP is appealing for information which may assist in the identification of a female adult who is suspected to have been attacked to death by an lephant before her body was devoured by hyenas on 07/12/22 at Nyakasanga Bridge at the 321 km peg along Harare–Chirundu Road.
The victim’s body parts were found scattered at the scene. Anyone with information to report at any nearest Police station.
</blockquote>
Cases of human-wildlife conflict have been on the rise in recent years and this year alone, as of August 2022, 46 Zimbabwean lives had been lost to human-wildlife conflict.
Last month the government said it will establish a fund that will be used to compensate people who will have been attacked by wild animals.
The Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund for Victims in Zimbabwe will cover death, maiming, and injuries.

Woman Trampled To Death By An Elephant And Devoured By Hyenas

A sixty-seven-year-old widow from Hwange lost almost her entire herd of cattle and goats overnight to a pride of lions.
Jenifer Khupe, from the Chief Mvuthu area in Matabeleland North’s Hwange West district, said the incident happened on the night of 8 September when she was in the process of selling one of her cows in order to buy food.
Speaking to <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/hwange-villagers-lose-livestock-to-marauding-lions/">VicFallsLive</a>, Khupe said their crops were destroyed by elephants during the previous farming season.
She said a total of seven lions killed seven of her 13 herd of cattle that night and 10 goats. Khupe said:
<blockquote>
I was in Plumtree when I received a phone call from my son who told me that lions had killed almost all our livestock.
Our kraal was secured in a way that repels predators. It was secured even at the rooftop, but because these lions are now used to marauding around people’s homesteads even during the day, they have become so daring that they can dig deep to gain entry into the kraals.
My son was sleeping at home and he was awoken by neighbours who heard noise from the kraals and they mobilised themselves to scare the lions away.
</blockquote>
But it was too late to save the livestock from the predators as the villagers found Khupe’s herd of cattle almost wiped out. Said Khupe:
<blockquote>
The lions killed the entire herd of cattle through suffocation and devoured the carcasses, so much that we couldn’t salvage any meat.
As for the goats they just killed seven of them, but left the carcasses untouched.
</blockquote>
A local wildlife conservation organisation bought the cattle carcasses for less than US$150.

Widow Loses 7 Herd Of Cattle, 10 Goats To Lions In One Night

A 13-year-old boy from Checheche narrowly escaped death after he was attacked by a crocodile recently while crossing Save River with his friends.
Danmore Gwenzi fought the reptile with bare hands after it had grabbed his thigh.
He poked his hand into the mouth of the crocodile and it let loose its grip but removed a chunk of his flesh.
His friends ran away and alerted villagers who then rushed to the scene where they found Danmore on the riverbank.
The teenager was rushed to St Peter’s Hospital in Chisumbanje where he was admitted.
Danmore and his mother spoke to <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/boy-13-fights-crocodile/">The Manica Post</a> about the attack. The boy said:
<blockquote>
We were crossing the Save River with my friends. The water was ankle high and we thought no crocodiles would be lurking there.
As we were about to reach the riverbank, the crocodile suddenly latched on me. It grabbed me on the thigh and I gathered some courage and poked my hand into its mouth.
The crocodile loosened its grip and I managed to wobble to safety. Other villagers then came to my rescue.
</blockquote>
His mother Marita Gwenzi said they were struggling with paying the hospital bills. She said:
<blockquote>
My son had a brush with death. I am happy he managed to survive. Danmore needs to be stitched and have a skin graft on his thigh. However, we are struggling to pay the bills.
</blockquote>
Last week, Cabinet adopted the establishment of a relief fund to cushion victims of human-wildlife conflicts but it is not clear if the Fund is now operational.

Boy (13) Fights Crocodile In Save River

The government says it will establish a fund that will be used to compensate people who will have been attacked by wild animals.
The Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund for Victims in Zimbabwe will cover death, maiming, and injuries.
Addressing reporters following a cabinet meeting in Harare on Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa attributed cases of human-wildlife conflict to competition for limited resources between humans and animals. She said:
This year alone, as of August 2022, 46 Zimbabwean lives have been lost to human-wildlife conflict.
<blockquote>
With the most affected being Mashonaland West where 19 people were killed, mostly in Kariba.
Regionally, Zimbabwe has the highest number of deaths from human-wildlife conflict.
Accordingly, the government has adopted the establishment of a relief fund to cushion the victims of human-wildlife conflict by way of funeral assistance and an amount paid towards hospitalisation and treatment with a set limit.
The payments will cover three categories, namely death, maiming and injuries. A specialised human-wildlife conflict unit will be established under the department of parks and wildlife.
Mutsvangwa said in 1980, Zimbabwe had an elephant population of 50,000, while the human population was 7.4 million.
</blockquote>
The elephant population has grown to more than 85,000 and the human population has more than doubled to 15 million. Said Mutsvangwa:
<blockquote>
The consequent competition for limited resources often results in wildlife attacks on humans, especially in communal areas and towns that are close to national parks, safaris, forests and other protected areas.
Consequently, people living adjacent to wildlife areas are always in danger of being attacked by animals, and it has been established that the frequency of such attacks is increasing.
</blockquote>
Mutsvangwa said the fund shall be self-financing, with proceeds expected to come from hunting revenues. | <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/11/wildlife-victims-to-be-compensated-under-human-wildlife-conflict-fund/">ZimLive</a>

Wildlife Victims To Be Compensated From Special Fund

Human-wildlife conflict has become the most critical challenge in wildlife conservation, a government official has said.
Speaking at a human-wildlife conflict meeting in Mbire District, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbra Rwodzi said that human activities are encroaching into wildlife habitats resulting in conflict between people and wild animals. She said:
<blockquote>
The status of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe is the most critical challenge in wildlife conservation.
There are a number of communities which live near and around protected areas in the country.
Major causes of human-wildlife conflict in the Mbire area are the human settlement in wildlife corridors, streambank cultivation, deforestation, expansion of arable land into forest areas and poaching.
</blockquote>
Since 2015, 36 people lost their lives while 75 were injured in crocodile, elephant, and lion attacks as well as snake bites in 11 wards across Mbire District in Mashonaland Central Province.
Rwodzi said major parts of Mbire were forest and wildlife areas and three community conservancies are being established under the Global Environmental Facility project.
The conservancies are Mbire North, Mbire South and Karinyanga, which Rwodzi said would contribute significantly to the hunting industry and community livelihoods.
Rwodzi said district projects were working to reduce the effects of human-wildlife conflicts by establishing:
<ul>
<li>solar community gardens</li>
<li>fish ponds</li>
<li>human-wildlife conflict campaigns</li>
<li>climate-smart agriculture</li>
<li>biogas digesters</li>
<li>apiculture</li>
<li>chilli technologies</li>
<li>training local game rangers</li>
</ul>
| <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200001751/human-wildlife-conflict-cases-escalate">NewsDay</a>

Human-wildlife Conflict Cases Rise In Mbire

Cases of human-wildlife conflict are on the rise, with 45 people having been killed and 40 others injured since January this year.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said overpopulation of animals is one of the major causes of human-animal conflicts. He said:
<blockquote>
We are losing people due to wild animals. People should be benefiting from wildlife but people are killed so we want to lobby the international community. Those who are living adjacent to the parks are the mainly affected.
Overpopulation of elephants and other surges in wildlife numbers is increasing the chances of human-animal contact and raises the chances of people killed and injured by the animals.
We are doing a lot of programs and awareness campaigns educating people about the dangers of wild animals and how to react and protect them.
</blockquote>
Wild animals stray to human settlements in search of food and water, especially during drought seasons and end up attacking people, Farawo said.
Conflicts are rampant in areas that are close to national parks such as Save Conservancy, Gonarezhou, Hwange and Mana Pools National Parks.
In 2021, 72 people were killed while several others were injured by wild animals across the country.
According to Zimparks, elephants accounted for half of the killings, followed by crocodiles at 40 per cent, with lions and buffaloes at 10 per cent.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/cases-of-human-wildlife-conflict-on-the-increase/">The Herald</a>

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