By Staff Reporter
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) continues to threaten lives and livelihoods in Zimbabwe, especially in areas bordering national parks and wildlife corridors. A recent harrowing incident in Mabaleni, Hwange, has once again spotlighted the growing tension between people and wildlife. Wiseman Ngozo, a resident, was attacked by a hyena while walking home last Thursday. He sustained serious injuries, including a fractured arm and deep facial wounds, and is currently recovering at St Patrick’s Hospital.
His wife, Gloria Shoko, described the ordeal with visible distress, saying, “Wild animals are a serious problem here. Even lions roam around our community, killing our goats.” Their story echoes the fears of many rural Zimbabweans living on the frontlines of an intensifying struggle for space and survival.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 18 people have already lost their lives to wild animals in the first quarter of 2025, with 32 more injured. Livestock losses are also mounting, with 53 cattle and 85 goats killed. Elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and increasingly, predators like lions and hyenas, are responsible for much of the conflict.
Experts cite several drivers behind the surge in HWC: habitat loss, climate change-induced droughts, rising human populations, and expanding human settlements into wildlife territory. These pressures are pushing wildlife into closer contact with people as they search for food and water.
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident involving Ngozo and pointed to wildlife overpopulation as a key cause. “Communities should avoid walking at night,” he urged, noting that mitigation strategies are underway. These include public awareness campaigns, compensation for losses, and community engagement programs aimed at reducing encounters with wildlife.
Despite these efforts, communities like Mabaleni remain deeply concerned. While residents welcome the interventions, they worry whether these measures will be enough to ensure their safety. For now, many continue to live in fear, watching the bush for signs of danger that could emerge at any moment.
As the government intensifies its response, the central question remains: can human-wildlife coexistence be achieved in Zimbabwe’s rural heartlands, or will these tragic encounters continue to define life along the edges of the wild?