Villagers in Binga are fighting a daily battle to protect their crops, livestock, and lives from the encroaching wildlife.
For Janet Mutale, the struggle turned deadly a few years ago when an elephant attacked her in the fields of Sinamweenda, just a stone’s throw from Lake Kariba.
“I was coming from the field when the elephant charged at me,”Mutale recalls, her voice still shaking with fear.
“I was lucky to be rescued by a truck that happened to be passing by, but it was a close call.”
Mutale’s story is just one of many in Binga, where human-wildlife conflict is a constant threat.
In Luunga, the situation is particularly dire, with villagers facing attacks from elephants, hyenas, and other wild animals.
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“During the summer, we often lose our water sources to elephants,” said Luzibo Mudenda, a resident of Luunga.
“And at night, we have to be on high alert, as hyenas and other animals can attack us in our own homes.”
Mudenda’s own experience is a testament to the dangers they face.
“I was attacked by a hyena in my sleep, and I nearly lost my nose,” she says, pointing to a scar above her left eyebrow.
“It’s a miracle I am alive today.”
The stories are endless, and the fear is palpable.
Japhet Muleya, another villager, recounts how he narrowly escaped a bull buffalo attack while walking home from Lake Kariba.
“I was walking around 7pm when the buffalo charged at me,”Muleya said.
“I had to climb a tree for safety, and I stayed there until morning.”
“Many of my neighbours have lost crops, livestock, and even family members to wildlife attacks. We need help, and we need it now.”
The human-wildlife conflict has become a major concern for the local authorities, who are calling for urgent action to address the issue.
Binga North Member of Parliament, Chineka Muchimba, said the law on compensation for human-wildlife conflict victims should be expedited to help those affected.
“Communities are facing danger from wildlife, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they are protected,” Machimba said.
“At the same time, we urge communities to desist from encroaching into wildlife areas and engaging in poaching activities.”
“We are working with conservation organisations to develop a comprehensive plan to address human-wildlife conflict, including the establishment of wildlife corridors and compensation schemes for affected communities.”
The traditional leaders are also echoing the call for action.
“We need to work together to find a solution to this problem,” Chief Sinakatenge, born Davit Mukonka said.
“Our people are suffering, and we need to protect them.
“We are calling on the government to provide more resources to support our communities and help us mitigate the impact of human-wildlife conflict.”
Chief Sinakatenge added: “The government needs to provide more support to our communities, including compensation for those affected and measures to prevent future attacks.”
Chief Sinamweenda, whose area has been hardest hit, echoed similar sentiments.
“We are doing our best to educate our people on how to coexist with wildlife, but we need more resources to make a real difference,” he said.
“We need support to establish wildlife management committees, provide emergency response teams, and implement measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict.”
“We are not just fighting for our crops and livestock; we are fighting for our lives,” said Luke Syamaala.
“We hope that our voices will be heard, and we will get the help we need to survive this struggle.”
A man was attacked and killed by an elephant in Siabuwa last Tuesday night while guarding his field.
The elephant that had been noticed by other villagers, just appeared and attacked the man who was holding a light for safety.