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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

ELEPHANTS are causing havoc in Bubi district in Matabeleland North where they are destroying crops.

Some farmers have reportedly lost all their crops to a herd of about 50 elephants that has literally been camped in some wards for the past few days.

The worst affected areas are Kenilworth ward 19, Headquarters Ward 21, Nkenyane Ward 10 and surrounding areas.

The elephants come from forestlands under the Forestry Commission in Gwamba and Debsharn.

Villagers said they are now spending nights in their fields guarding crops as the jumbos usually come at night and during the day retreat and hide at the nearby Dollar Block Farm, a protected area.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) yesterday dispatched rangers to drive away the herd and they shot and killed two that were deemed problem animals.

The villagers said they are not sure if the elephants had gone away and feared they would come back.

They said farmers are in danger of losing all their crops and some risk being killed while guarding their crops.

Some herdsmen have also been encountering the jumbos while herding cattle during the day.

Mrs Locadia Mhlanga of Masimini in Kenilworth said the elephants invaded her field on two occasions while her neighbour lost all crops.

“We have been trying to drive them away by beating drums and tins as well as making fire and putting chilli pepper on the maize since elephants do not like to be choked.

“Sometimes they would go away but yesterday we failed to drive away a herd that got into our neighbour’s field. They finished all the maize and pumpkins and this means the family is facing hunger. We are now used to helping each other, whenever the elephants arrive at a field we all go there but sometimes it doesn’t help. People are sleeping in the fields guarding crops and it’s risky,” she said.

Rangers from Dollar Block Farm used to help the community by driving away the elephants.

Mr Patson Mlilo

Bubi Rural District Council chief executive Dr Patson Mlilo said many villagers had lost their crops.

He thanked ZimParks for intervening.

“They usually come at night after rangers would have knocked off. This year they invaded many areas but the worst affected are wards 19 in Kenilworth and ward 21 in Headquarters as well as Nkenyane area. 

“During the day they will be hiding in Dollar Block Farm where they know they are safe and come out at night. We thank ZimParks who came and shot two and we hope they will go away,” he said. – @ncubeleon