Elephant tramples boy to death
A 16-year-old boy was on Monday trampled to death by a bull elephant that is part of a herd of 25 terrorising villagers in Chimbuwe, Mukumbura and Kaitano areas in Mashonaland Central province.
The jumbos are suspected to have escaped from the Mbire conservancy area last week.
Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Memory Pamire and Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman, Cde Dickson Mafios, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
Cde Mafios said villagers were now living in fear and most of them were walking and staying in groups.
The majority of the villagers are now staying at Kaitano and Chimbuwe schools at night.
“Forget Musona of Kaitano village under Chief Chiswiti and other villagers were watching a group of elephants and some started throwing stones at the jumbos.
“This angered the elephants and suddenly a bull elephant charged towards the villagers and attacked Forget. It is believed he was lifted by the trunk and was thrown into the air and later trampled,” Insp Pamire said.
She said the elephant carried the boy to the garden before dropping and killing him instantly.
“The herd of elephants then moved away and the villagers reported the matter to the police who found the boy’s intestines protruding.
“These are dangerous animals that must not be taken for granted even if you are used to seeing them,” she said.
Cde Mafios castigated the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for failing to react swiftly upon receiving reports from villagers.
“The elephants were spotted last Tuesday and on Wednesday
“I personally informed the provincial administrator who told me that the parks guys were coming.
“The guys did not turn up and we heard that they were claiming they did not have transport and fuel.
“This resulted in the death of this youngster (Forget) and we fail to understand the operations of the parastatal when we record deaths,” he said.
Cde Mafios said the villagers were now staying in groups at schools and at councillors’ houses in fear of the jumbos.
“This is not a solution because the councillors are also human beings who need to be protected.
“We call upon the relevant authorities to move in before we lose more lives,” he said.