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out of Humani Range destroyed homesteads mainly those belonging to newly resettled farmers.
The jumbos believed to be moving in a group of over 30 also destroyed crops especially sorghum and millet leaving villagers in the Chilonga area on the brink of starvation.
The elephants are believed to have escaped from Humani Range, which is one of the biggest elephant habitats in the Lowveld.
Villagers said the elephants had destroyed scores of homes in areassuch as Makosiya, Chikovo, Malisanga, Majijima and Gwaseche, which fall under Chilonga communal lands.
Mr Hahlani Chikulungubwe, who is the village head in the Malisanga area under Chilonga, said the problem of elephants was giving resettled villagers in his area sleepless nights.
“We have a serious problem with elephants here which have been on the prowl over the past few weeks looking for food and in the process the elephants numbering over 30 have been destroying houses leaving scores of people without accommodation.
“As if that was not enough the elephants had also worsened the state of our harvests in the just-ended farming season because they also destroyed crops so for us it is a double tragedy, said Mr Chikulungubwe.
Another villager Mr Emson Mushiyi echoed the same sentiments.
“The elephant problem is now out of hand here because they did not just destroy our crops but they are also now destroying houses as they wander around looking for food and water,” said Mr Emson Mushiyi.
“We are lucky that they have not killed anyone as yet but many people have been left without homes after they were razed down by elephants.”
Efforts to contact the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority public relations manager Ms Caroline Washaya Moyo were fruitless. Headman Chilonga, Mr Lisenga Kazamula, implored government to assist the affected families.
He added that necessary steps should be taken to make sure that elephants do not stray into areas where people live.
“The problem of elephants is a perennial one and we just wish ifthere could be a permanent solution to these because every year we suffer some kind of damage at the hands of these animals and the onlyresult is social upheaval,” said headman Chilonga.