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Cde Lungisani Nleya

Sukulwenkosi Dube
AS the sun sets, a number of villagers in Bulilima District make their way into the fields for a rather awkward agenda.
Equipped with different garden tools they make their way not to till their fields or harvest their crops but sleep to there.
Upon reaching the fields their first point of call is to gather enough firewood to see them through the night. They build fires at several points in their fields and then wait upon the threat.

All through the night the villagers work tirelessly to ensure that the fires do not burn out. Paying little attention to the possible dangers that may come their way, they are prepared to do anything in order to guard their only source of livelihood ­ – their crops.

This is the kind of life which some villagers in Bulilima District are now living ever since elephants started invading their fields.
This unfortunate turn of events has crushed their hopes of recording good harvests.

A villager in Mwatsi area in Hingwe said the elephants appeared to be moving across villages and had reached their area.
“The elephants have reached our area. In the past few weeks we were receiving reports that they were invading neighbouring villages. We are now left with no option but to ensure that our fields are guarded every night,” said villager Janet Moyo.

She said villagers were building fires on different spots in their fields to scare away the elephants.
“Every day when the sun is about to set we start fires in various spots in our fields. As you can see I am collecting firewood so that I can have enough for the night. We hope that these fires can keep the elephants out of the fields.

“Throughout the night we keep the fire ablaze. My strategy is to position my family members at different spots because I cannot manage to monitor all the fires on my own. It is not only hectic but risky as well to be moving through the field at night,” she said.

Moyo said the villagers were risking their lives by doing this but they did not have any other option.
“We are not enjoying what we are doing but we have no other option. We cannot allow these elephants to devour our crops that we laboured to grow.

“Our lives are at risk because elephants can be provoked by fire but we are really desperate. I want my children to have food to eat this time around compared to the previous years where crops were not performing well,” said Moyo.

Another villager, Bonani Masuku, said her life was now revolving around spending most of her time in the fields.
“I used to spend my days in the fields during the planting period and now I am spending my nights there. I sleep in the fields overnight and during the day I have to make sure that my crops are not attacked by birds as they are also starting to give us problems.

“My life now revolves around the fields as I cannot leave my crops unattended. Our crops are not ripe yet which means we cannot remove them as yet to avoid damage. The only thing we can do is sleep in the fields,” said Masuku.

Sikhumbuzo Nyoni said their hopes of recording good harvests had been shattered by the elephant invasions.
“This time around we were blessed with good rains. My crops performed well and I was sure that my family would not face food problems. These crops that I harvest are my only source of livelihood.

“I rely on selling these crops to raise school fees money and to feed my family. However, with this problem of elephants I am scared that I might lose everything I have in my fields. Whenever these elephants invade the fields they devour everything. They do not leave any crops standing,” said Nyoni.

He said the elephants had remained a menace to the villagers over the past years without any visible intervention from relevant authorities.
“This problem of elephants is bringing us poverty. We cannot be having the same problem every year without the relevant authorities resolving the matter. Right now these elephants are invading our fields and they will eventually move to our homes as that is what they have been doing in the previous years.

“They first devour the crops in the fields then they move to eat those that will be stored in the homesteads. We are tired of living such a tiresome life,” said Nyoni.
The elephants which invaded the district recently are reported to be moving in herds of about 15. Three groups have been spotted so far.

The jumbos first invaded Makhulela, Ndolwane and Bambadzi Wards causing panic among villagers who are now spending their nights in the bushes. They have now moved to Hingwe area while villagers in other areas fear that the elephants will eventually reach them as well.

The elephants strike at night and spend the whole day hiding in the bushes.
The National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has deployed its workers to chase away the elephants. However due to resource constraints the authority has been unable to be up to the task as they are failing to reach all affected areas due to transport challenges.

Bulilima West National House of Assembly Member Lungisani Nleya said in the past years villagers have been struggling to survive because of the elephant invasions.
“l fear that villagers might be faced with drought once again because of these elephants. This time around people really worked hard in their fields and the crops really did well but this might all go to waste.

“The relevant authority has deployed officers on the ground but they are unable to cover all the ground. It is not safe for villagers to sleep in the bushes as they may be harmed,” said Cde Nleya.

“These elephants are coming from Mabhongwane Game Park which is within the district. The best solution would be having a perimeter fencing erected around the game park so that the jumbos do not wander into fields and homes.”