News / National
Elephant tramples Kariba fisherman to death
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A fisherman tragically lost his life on Saturday night after being trampled by an elephant while walking between ARDA Fishing Camp and Gache-Gache Fishing Camp near Lake Kariba.
The deceased, identified as Never Kahondo, was reportedly just a few metres from reaching Gache-Gache Fishing Camp when he encountered the elephant.
According to local resident Luke Timire, the animal charged suddenly, leaving Kahondo no time to escape.
"It all happened so fast. The fisherman tried to run, but the elephant was too quick. When we got there, he was lying in a pool of blood. We did our best to get him to the clinic, but unfortunately, it was too late," Timire said.
Kahondo was rushed to Gache-Gache Clinic but succumbed to his injuries before he could be transferred to Kariba District Hospital.
Tichaona Manzungu, chairperson of the Gache-Gache Fishing Association, expressed sorrow over the incident.
"It's a sad day for our community. The deceased was a hardworking fisherman, and his death is a painful loss to both his family and the community," Manzungu said.
He urged residents to exercise caution in wildlife-prone areas.
"We encourage everyone to avoid walking alone at night, especially in regions where wild animals are frequently seen. We will be engaging with relevant authorities to strengthen safety measures and prevent similar tragedies."
Human-wildlife conflict continues to rise in Zimbabwe, particularly in communities bordering national parks and wildlife reserves. The government and conservation stakeholders have been urged to step up mitigation efforts to protect both people and wildlife.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is expected.
The deceased, identified as Never Kahondo, was reportedly just a few metres from reaching Gache-Gache Fishing Camp when he encountered the elephant.
According to local resident Luke Timire, the animal charged suddenly, leaving Kahondo no time to escape.
"It all happened so fast. The fisherman tried to run, but the elephant was too quick. When we got there, he was lying in a pool of blood. We did our best to get him to the clinic, but unfortunately, it was too late," Timire said.
Kahondo was rushed to Gache-Gache Clinic but succumbed to his injuries before he could be transferred to Kariba District Hospital.
Tichaona Manzungu, chairperson of the Gache-Gache Fishing Association, expressed sorrow over the incident.
"It's a sad day for our community. The deceased was a hardworking fisherman, and his death is a painful loss to both his family and the community," Manzungu said.
He urged residents to exercise caution in wildlife-prone areas.
"We encourage everyone to avoid walking alone at night, especially in regions where wild animals are frequently seen. We will be engaging with relevant authorities to strengthen safety measures and prevent similar tragedies."
Human-wildlife conflict continues to rise in Zimbabwe, particularly in communities bordering national parks and wildlife reserves. The government and conservation stakeholders have been urged to step up mitigation efforts to protect both people and wildlife.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is expected.
Source - newsday
