Hwange - A 76-year-old man from Hwange has been trampled to death by an elephant, in yet another tragic reminder of the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region.
The victim, Davison Mudimba, was laid to rest on Tuesday. Villagers described him as a devoted family man and a pillar of the community whose sudden death has left many in shock.
"We have no idea what to do next. We keep losing our loved ones, and authorities must assist us. Khulu was a loving man, and we are in pain," one mourner said.
Another villager voiced frustration over the situation, saying, "We love the animals, but they no longer stay in the parks. They come into our villages, destroy our food, and kill our people. This kind of death is painful to the victim and to us."
For the widow, Mrs. Violet Khumalo, the tragedy has left a devastating void. "He was a loving husband, and we have grandchildren, some of them orphans, that we took care of together. Now that I am alone, it will be difficult. There should be compensation in cases like this because families are left struggling," she said.
Authorities confirmed that Mudimba's death is part of a broader crisis. More than 40 people have been killed in human-wildlife conflicts since January.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, urged communities to exercise caution. "We continue to engage communities on animal behaviour and risk mitigation. It is unfortunate that lives continue to be lost, especially with elephants and crocodiles. We encourage communities to minimise movements at night when animals are most active," he said.
Hwange National Park, the country's largest wildlife reserve, is home to more than 45,000 elephants -- well above what the ecosystem can sustain. Conservationists say this overpopulation, coupled with the international ivory trade ban, has worsened both conservation challenges and deadly encounters between people and wildlife.