Sheryleen Masuku
ENVIRONMENT minister Nqobizita Ndlovu has said villagers who are affected by Human Wildlife Conflict should assist the government in coming up with strategies that can help mitigate the conflict in Matabeleland province.
The human wildlife conflict has over years resulted in destruction of fields and loss of produce and loss of life in some parts of the region.
However, in Matabeleland province the standoff is said to be escalating in areas such as Victoria Falls, Hwange, Bulilima, Binga and Matopo resulting in loss of farm produce due to elephant invasions in the fields.
In an interview with The Zambezi Times, Ndlovu confirmed the ongoing threat.
“The main problem is that our numbers have really soared they have grown exponentially and there are now a threat to the habitat itself,” Ndlovu said.
He however, dispelled hopes of any government compensation to villagers for the loss or damage to the crops.
“If there was to be any compensation for the destruction into people’s fields in communities by their own wildlife, who would compensate them, so that’s the complication. It’s their wildlife they benefit, if you look at how they have been benefiting over the years.
“The benefits are to remind them that they live with wildlife, that they will be a human wildlife conflict. They should be coming up with strategies to make sure that this is minimised,” Ndlovu said.
The minister said his ministry was working with Campfire Association of Zimbabwe and local authorities in Bulilima and Matopo areas that have also been affected by human wildlife conflict.
“On the government side we are working on policy to help deal with these issues.”
Last week a Christian Charity organisation Habakkuk Trust documented an escalating increase in the number of reports in Madlambudzi by villagers crying over the loss of produce due to elephant invasions in their fields and lack of compensation.
In the report Habakkuk Trust said: “Losing crops to wildlife results in food-insecure households and reduced economic status”.
Acute hunger is set to soar in Binga and surrounding areas this year despite the good rains due to the ongoing human wildlife conflict that has resulted in some villagers losing their entire produce to elephant invasions on their fields.
Speaking to The Zambezi Times recently Member of Parliament for Binga South constituency Joel Gabuzza, expressed fears of food insecurity in Binga as villagers were losing their produce to HWC.
Gabbuza said elephant invasions on fields as well as other wild animals such as buffalos were causing havoc in most Wards in Binga.
“Almost every ward there are complaints of wild life invasions on fields. Mainly, elephants but in Tinde ward there are also reports of three marauding buffalos”.
Villagers in Binga have been harvesting their crops pre-maturely in an effort to save their produce from wildlife.
“People are now forced to harvest pre maturely. Some fields are completely destroyed”.
Gabbuza expressed fears of a humanitarian food crisis in his district this year following the damages caused by elephants in most fields.
“This year people had a very promising harvest but these pre-harvest loses will lead to food insecurity in many household”.
Gabbuza said Campfire rangers have been completely overwhelmed by the number of elephant invasions in the district.
Contacted for comment Campfire Association director, Charles Jonga said it was important to note that this was peak season for HWC in most districts.
He said Campfire rangers were working tirelessly in Binga and surrounding areas especially in Ward 3 where the Campfire Rangers were marking boundaries.
“There has been encroachment by people in a section of Ward 3 which is part of Songo hunting concession, hence frequent reports of conflict with elephants”.
Jonga confirmed reports of Buffalos also terrorising villages in Binga Tinde district.
“Tinde has a buffalo that comes from Hwange National Park and disappears back to the park after causing havoc. The reporting system is being improved so that rangers react more efficiently.”
