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Mashonaland West Correspondent
Authorities in Kariba are working on strategies aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict which has claimed 12 people in the past two months.

Six people who were attacked by crocodiles, four by elephants and two by hippos, are among those killed in the human-wildlife conflict.

Members of the District Civil Protection Unit and locals met in the resort town of Kariba recently to deliberate on how to mitigate the conflict.

Speaking during the meeting, chairperson of the CPU sub-committee on human-animal conflict awareness Mr Gratian Mahachi said authorities in the district were concerned with the loss of lives due to the conflicts.

“Conflict between humans and wild animals is now a major issue and this has prompted the Civil Protection Unit to come up with a sub-committee which will spearhead the crafting of strategies towards ending the conflict before more lives are even lost,” he said.

The increased incidents of human-wildlife conflict have been blamed mainly on human settlements encroaching into natural habitants for wildlife.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Kariba Incorporated Residents Ratepayers Association executive chairman Mr Samu Mawawo, an ardent advocate for human safety against wild animal attacks, urged traditional leaders to join the fight.

“There is need for us as a community to recognise our traditional leaders and give them a chance to lead a ceremony so as to appease the ancestors who might not be happy with what is happening in Lake Kariba,” he said.

The committee agreed that a team made up of the ZRP, Zimparks, representatives of fishermen, residents and other stakeholders will on October 25 address fish producers and the community in a campaign targeted at spreading information on safety against wild animals.