VILLAGERS in Hwange are in mourning following the death of a 76-year-old man who was trampled to death by an elephant, in the latest tragic incident of escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region.
The deceased, Davison Mudimba, was buried this Tuesday, with mourners describing him as a devoted family man and community pillar whose sudden death has left a deep scar.
One mourner said, “We have no idea what to do next. We keep losing our loved ones, and authorities must assist us. Khulu was a loving man, and we are in pain.”
Another villager added, “We love the animals, but they no longer stay in the parks. They come into our villages, destroy our food, and kill our people. This kind of death is painful to the victim and to us.”
For Mr Mudimba’s widow, the tragedy has left a deep void.
“He was a loving husband, and we have grandchildren, some of them orphans, that we took care of together. Now that I am alone, it will be difficult. There should be compensation in cases like this because families are left struggling,” said Mrs Violet Khumalo.
Authorities say the case is not isolated, with more than 40 lives lost to human-wildlife conflict since January.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo said communities must remain vigilant.
“We continue to engage communities on animal behaviour and risk mitigation. It is unfortunate that lives continue to be lost, especially with elephants and crocodiles. We encourage communities to minimise movements at night when animals are most active.”
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve, is home to over 45,000 elephants, far more than the ecosystem can sustain. This overpopulation, coupled with the international ivory trade ban, has worsened conservation and human-wildlife conflict challenges.
