Source: The Herald
Date: 13 December
Author:Fidelis Munyoro
At least 27 people lost their lives to attacks by wild animals countrywide this year, the Communal Areas Management Project for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) said yesterday. According to the CAMPFIRE annual report, the 27 people died after being attacked by elephants, hippos, buffaloes and crocodiles by October. Binga district recorded the highest number of deaths with nine people in which four were killed by elephants, two by hippos and one by a buffalo, while three others were killed by crocodiles. Guruve district in Mashonaland Central recorded the second highest number with eight deaths due to jumbos and crocodiles.Hurungwe district in Mashonaland West had five deaths, Tsholotsho had two and Chiredzi three.
Commenting on the loss of human lives to the wild animals, CAMPFIRE Director Mr Charles Jonga expressed concern over the fatal incidents."This is one of the sad realities of running conservation as the basis of community involvement," he said. "Most of the time there is no recognition of the fact that communities are always at the front line of the battle between man and beast.""Our biggest challenge is of creating awareness on why the community benefits and sustainable use programmes are important and must be supported," he said. Some methods of mitigating loss of human lives, crops and livestock were essential through electric fencing to ward off animals.The statistics were released ahead of the CAMPFIRE Fourteenth conference meant to review its progress scheduled to begin today.About one hundred participants drawn from all corners of the country are expected to attend the conference under the theme: People, Land and Natural Resources.
Speaker of Parliament Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde John Nkomo is expected to give a keynote address after the official opening by Environment and Tourism Minister Cde Francis Nhema. Mr Jonga said CAMPFIRE decided to hold its conference in the country environment where most of their activities were conducted. "The CAMPFIRE conference has been brought to people it conducts business with and amongst the rural community that lives with and bear the greatest costs of natural resources management," said Mr Jonga.Mr Jonga said the conference was being held at a time when the country was experiencing economic hardships. However, he said the conference was setting the stage for a new dispensation for CAMPFIRE.He said CAMPFIRE will continue to do well despite donor fatigue. USAID the major donor has since stopped funding the project.