Elephants destroy crops

BEITBRIDGE – ELEPHANTS left a trail of destruction after they invaded an irrigation scheme in Beitbridge West last week.

A herd of stray elephants was spotted at Kwalu Irrigation Scheme in Beitbridge West area where they devastated crops.

The country’s elephant population continues to rise leading to a surge in human wildlife conflicts as elephants encroach onto areas inhabited by villagers.

Last week a herd numbering more than 30 elephants terrorised Kwalu Irrigation Scheme villagers, leaving a trail of destruction that saw more than two hectares of maize that was at milk dough stage flattened and destroyed.

The spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife, Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the development saying their officers are now on the ground, ready to chase away the animals.

“Yes, we have received that report and our officers are on the ground to do an assessment of the destruction. These are the issues that we usually say that it is not only lives which are lost, but crops being destroyed is really a sad incident,” said Farawo.

Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu, the Acting Provincial Agricultural Director, also confirmed the incident and said the Government must intervene because when this affects a bigger area, chances are high that communities will be food insecure.

Kwalu Irrigation Scheme is 95ha big with 34ha under citrus, three hectares under maize at milk dough stage, six hectares maize at early vegetative stage while 28 ha is under preparations for sugar beans.

“Farmers engaged Parks for assistance in scaring away elephants and as I am talking they are on ground waiting,” said the officer.

Following the human-wildlife conflict, people have been asking whether the affected communities will be compensated or not.

But said Farawo: “Currently we don’t have any policy on compensation, although Cabinet last year approved the establishment of a human wildlife conflict relief fund, which will cater for hospital bills in case of the injured or maimed and funeral assistance for the deceased.”

With about 100 000 elephants, Zimbabwe has the world’s second largest population after Botswana and about one quarter of the elephants in Africa.

More than half of the elephants live in and outside the unfenced Hwange National Park. Elephants roam freely from Zimbabwe’s sprawling and unfenced game reserves.