No compensation law for victims of human and wildlife conflict: ZIMPARKS
By Thembelihle Mhlanga
The Government of Zimbabwe does not have laws that make provision for compensation of victims of human and wildlife conflict, the regulating authority, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZIMPAKS) has said.
Absence of this law came to light after several victims who suffered bodily harm or the destruction of their crops have gone without compensation.
Due to the effects of climate change, resulting in prolonged and perennial droughts, villagers in the district of Lupane are at risk of attacks by wild animals that forage into people’s residences in search of food.
One widower Mrs Nobuhle Khumalo (not her real name) of Banda village in Menyezwa Ward,whose only son was killed by an elephant while guarding the crop field narrated her ordeal regretting the demise of of the only breadwinner of the homestead.
“The death of my son in 2018 opened a highway to poverty in this household, as my son was the sole breadwinner. He died while guarding our crop fields against the elephants that invade fields at night to graze our crops” said Mrs Khumalo.
She said that though she lost both her son and the crops, there was no compensation for the substantial loss coming her way.
Mrs Khumalo, a mother of six now depends on doing community piece jobs like rehabilitating the mud huts on hire and weeding fields for other community members for her own sustenance.
However, the ZIMPARKS Public Relations Officer Mr Tinashe Farawo told Community Podium that, in as much as he sympathises with victims, it is unfortunate that there is no law that provides for protection and compensation in the event of any loss of human life or livelihood due to wild animal attacks.
“We as the government are still using the old time laws that do not facilitate for any compensation towards any loss or damages. If your livestock is killed, field grazed or a human life is lost, there is no provision for compensation in lieu of the damages or loss”, said Farawo.
Farawo however revealed that the higher echelons of government are working on creating a law that will protect both wildlife and human life for the two to co-exist in harmony.
Farawo lamented the fact that some villagers in affected areas take it upon themselves to kill the menacing animals which constitutes to committing crime according to the laws of the land.
The Matabeleland Coordinator and Media Liason officer for Centre for Natural Resources Governance Ms Simiso Mlevu said that since there are no compensation laws in place there can be no remedies that can be sought.
“The only solution is to have laws and regulations addressing the issue and the best way to achieve this is for the public to push or petition the government to formulate such a law” said Mlevu.
