Man Trampled To Death By Elephant In Victoria Falls

A 42-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant in Mkhosana suburb, in the CBZ area of Victoria Falls, at around 11 pm on Sunday.

Gift Siziba, a resident, had been on his way to attend the funeral of a colleague from Wild Horizons when the tragic incident occurred.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Innocent Chidarera, at whose home the attack occurred, said the proximity of the incident left his family deeply shaken. He said:

“I am the owner of the premises where this unfortunate incident happened. It was, I think, around 11 PM.

“I was asleep and was with my wife inside the house. We heard an elephant trumpeting.

“We opened our curtain, and we found that a man was crawling under this tree, and the elephant was in pursuit.

“When it got to the man, it went on its knees. I think it was using its horns to attack him.

“We could not see much because this tree was also obstructing. However, the elephant was so close, it was so close that you could touch it from the house.”

Chidarera said he tried to make loud noises and shout in an effort to distract the elephant and draw its attention away from Siziba, hoping to prevent further harm. He said:

“I also tried to make some noise inside. Then it trumpeted again and sprang. Then all the neighbours, I think they were watching from their windows.

“Everyone came out, and then we saw a restless man, or I can say a lifeless body, lying beside my window. I am traumatised.”

A neighbour, identifying herself as Prophetess Margaret, said she had noticed the elephants moving around earlier in the evening but never imagined the tragedy that was about to unfold.

Speaking to the press, she urged the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS) to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life in the area.

Matabeleland North Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Glory Banda, confirmed the tragic incident. He said:

“A 42-year-old man, Gift Siziba, was walking at around 10:30 pm when he encountered an elephant, which charged towards him.

“He tried to run towards the houses, but the elephant caught up with him and trampled him to death.

“Residents tried to scare it away, but unfortunately, he had already died upon their arrival.”

Banda urged the public to remain especially vigilant at night, when the risk of human-wildlife encounters is highest.