Suspected Zimbabwean elephant herd causes terror, destroys crops in Mozambique

Maputo (AIM-New Ziana) -A herd of about 50 elephants suspected to have come from a conservation area in Zimbabwe has been causing havoc in Mossurize district, southern Manica province of Mozambique.

“The elephants entered the district of Mossurize from Machaze last week,” district administrator Fernando Samuel confirmed on Wednesday.

Samuel said the elephants were devouring crops and destroying granaries in the villages of Mabudo, Chicambue and Gunhe.

“There are three areas where elephants are harassing residents, but we are on top of the situation,” he said.

He said personnel from the District Service for Economic Activities and from the wildlife sector were creating barricades and introducing other ways to repel the animals, as a way of restoring calm within the affected communities.

In July this year, there were reports of a herd of 50 elephants again from neighbouring Zimbabwe wrecking chaos in Machaze district.

The elephants destroyed 15 houses built of the common sun-dried bricks, and their barns.

In rural Mozambique, each house has a barn, and the elephants destroyed both.

AIM-New Ziana