-as villagers call for swift action
ACKNOWLEDGE MAWERE
BIKITA – A 40-year-old woman narrowly escaped death by the skin of her teeth yesterday Wednesday, after being gored by a stray buffalo in Ward 29, Bikita South, a day after reports of a buffalo sighting in Ward 4.
Ellen Chitsa was attacked around 6a.m. while walking to Farm 59, where she works. She sustained a deep wound to her right arm and was rushed to Ngorima Clinic for treatment.
“I was going to the farm yesterday morning, when the buffalo suddenly appeared and charged at me. It gored my right hand with its horn,” Chitsa said, with tears running down her chicks.
She attributed her survival to God and said she could not recall how she escaped.
She received six stitches for her wound and was referred to hospital for further care, but has not done so as she has no money.
“They told me to visit a hospital for further medical attention, but I am yet to go because I have no money. I need help,” she told The Mid-Week Watch.
Her employer, John Munetsi, owner of Farm 59, said Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) officials arrived later but did not locate the animal. He criticized the delayed response.
“The authorities came late and were slow to respond. This puts our lives in danger. These wild animals are dangerous, and seeing them roaming like this leaves us in fear. We even fear for our children going to school. We’re not safe at all,” Munetsi said.
He argued that victims of human-wildlife conflict should receive compensation or medical assistance from the responsible authorities.
Villagers in nearby areas of Bikita South said they now live in fear. It is unclear whether the buffalo that attacked Chitsa is the same one seen in Ward 4 on Monday morning, or if multiple animals are straying into communal areas.
Contacted for comment, ZimParks’ Problem Animal Control Department referred The Midweek Watch to the Masvingo regional office. Evans Shumbayaonda, line manager and ranger at the Masvingo office, confirmed the incident and said it was being attended to.
On compensation, Shumbayaonda said the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund [HWCRF] exists in law but systems for its implementation are not yet in place.
The fund was established under the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act. The Act states:
“There is hereby established a Fund to be called the Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund [HWCRF], whose object is to offer monetary relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict, including death, maiming, or any other physical injury caused by an encounter with a wild animal.”
Ever Vimbai Chinoda, a wildlife and environmental lawyer and founder of the Nature Extant Learning Centre, said communities need training to manage stray animals safely while awaiting full operationalization of the fund.
“The Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act now provides for a relief fund, which is positive. However, authorities are still developing the systems and mechanisms. In the meantime, people should be capacitated on how to manage human-wildlife conflict—training on animal behavior and how to react when encountering different wild animals,” Chinoda said.
She added that such training would reduce incidents, minimize risk, and help communities understand their rights under the law.
The Nature Extant Learning Centre offers HEXCO-accredited short courses and national certificates in Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, Animal Law and Welfare, and Wildlife Law Enforcement.
Chitsa remains in need of further medical care. Well-wishers wishing to assist can contact The Midweek Watch offices on +263 392 265 097 for her details.
