By Citabilizyo Mweembe
The remote community of Makwika Village in Hwange, has been thrust into a daily battle for survival as a result of an escalating human-elephant conflict. Residents are reeling from the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and resources, leaving them vulnerable.
The elephant invasion has become a relentless reality for the people of Makwika. Herds of the massive animals have ravaged crops, including vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees, devastating the community’s primary source of food and income.
“We’ve lost our entire harvest to these elephants,” lamented Kion Mugande, a resident. “We are left with nothing.”
Beyond the loss of crops, the elephants have also targeted the village’s water pipes, leaving families without access to clean water for drinking, cooking, or tending to their gardens.
“We were shocked to see our water pipes crushed, leaving us without water,” added Mugande. “This has created a major crisis for our community.”
The threat posed by the elephants extends beyond material losses, as they have begun regularly invading human settlements, putting lives at risk.
“We’re living in fear, as elephants roam our village at night,” said Elizabeth Munkuli, a Makwika resident, “and it’s a constant threat to our safety.”
According to community member Philemon Mpala, the human-elephant conflict is a complex issue driven by a combination of factors, including poor mining practices by companies that have degraded the local environment and climate change, which has disrupted the elephants’ natural habitats and migration patterns.
“The poor mining methods have polluted the water bodies in the national park, thereby attracting the elephants to the area,” Mpala explained. “This, combined with the effects of climate change, has created this menacing situation we are experiencing.”
Makwika’s local councilor, Elphas. Dhlamini, acknowledged the challenges in addressing the crisis, noting the involvement of multiple stakeholders and the need to navigate complex protocols. However, he emphasised the urgency of finding solutions to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict and engage the community.
“We need urgent action to address this issue,” Dhlamini said. “If there are barriers to shooting the elephants, then we must explore alternative approaches, such as conducting timely human-wildlife conflict lessons to help people understand animal behavior and find ways to coexist.”
The devastation wrought by the human-elephant conflict in Makwika Village has left the community in a dangerous position, struggling to maintain their livelihoods and way of life. Urgent intervention and a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders will be crucial in restoring a delicate balance between the needs of the people and the preservation of the region’s fragile ecosystem.
New Ziana
