The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
FARMERS at Chibuwe and Musikavanhu Irrigation Schemes in Ward 20 of Chipinge are counting their losses as marauding elephants straying from Save Conservancy are destroying their irrigation infrastructure and crops.
Elephants from the conservancy usually escape and cross Save River as they look for green vegetation in the irrigation schemes during this time of the year.
The stray elephants are destroying crops such as maize, beans and vegetables.
They are also destroying the irrigation schemes’ fence and canals, leaving farmers with the burden of repairing the damaged infrastructure.
The farmers are now appealing for the intervention of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and other Government departments to address this perennial problem.
The farmers say they are not adequately resourced to scare the elephant herds away and have resorted to the use of traditional way of drum beating, a move that threatens their lives.
Chairperson of the area’s CAMPFIRE, Mr Ray Muvheyo said there is urgent need to address the human-wildlife conflict issue as lives and crops are being lost.
Chipinge Rural District Council chairman, who is also Ward 20 councillor, Councillor Charles Mugidho said the local authority is seized with the issue.
ZimParks spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo acknowledged the growing human-wildlife conflict, and said this is a result of the overpopulated conservancies and parks.
“This problem is not only happening in Chipinge, but across the country. We need to look at the cause and address the problem. Our elephant herd has grown over the years since the last culling which was done in 1987.
“We have made numerous presentations at international forums calling for the lifting of the ban on ivory and other elephant trade, but we are not winning. Some sections of the society view the culling route as being cruelty to animals, but the situation in our parks and conservancies is not sustainable.
“The elephant and human population are increasing daily, but the country is not expanding, hence this conflict. An ideal situation should see local communities benefiting from the wildlife, and not this situation where they are viewed as pests,” said Mr Farawo.
He said ZimParks is carrying out awareness campaigns in areas that borders parks and conservancies to reduce incidents where people end up losing their lives.
“This year we have so far lost 50 lives to the human-wildlife conflict across the country and this should be avoided. We cannot afford losing more lives, hence the awareness campaigns on what communities should do when they encounter stray wild animals like elephants and buffaloes.
“People who stay near parks and conservancies should avoid walking at night as the animals will be also be roaming around, especially during this time of the year when they will be looking for food as the parks are now overgrazed.
“We are also moving some of the animals from overpopulated areas to new areas. We also call on those who want to have the animals in their private properties to also come on board,” he said.
Mr Farawo said they are also working with rural district councils to revive CAMPFIRE programmes so that local communities benefit.
