Terror in Gwanda South as elephants destroy crops, one shot dead

By Jonah B Moyo

Relief came to farmers in several wards of Gwanda South recently after the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers swiftly responded to escalating human-wildlife conflict by neutralising a stray elephant that had been destroying crops in the Sukwe area.

The intervention follows days of distress among farmers in wards 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 24, where elephants have been roaming freely and damaging fields.

The elephants are reportedly moving in groups of about five herds, each believed to consist of more than 50. When they invade a farm, they leave nothing behind, completely destroying crops that farmers depend on for survival. As a result, entire fields have been wiped out, leaving communities facing a potential season of hunger despite the receipt of good rains.

On Saturday, 31 January 2026, at around 11:00 pm, the elephants invaded Ephias Ndlovu’s farm for approximately an hour. After alerting the councillor and fellow local farmers, they rushed to the area, only to find that the animals had already moved on.

“I went to my farm as part of my daily routine, only to find elephants inside, destroying everything. I immediately alerted the community and the councillor, and we contacted the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, who responded swiftly. However, by the time we arrived, the elephants had already finished eating my crops and had moved on to the next farm.

“When we arrived at League Maphala’s farm, that is when the rangers took action and shot one elephant, forcing the others to flee. The herd scattered into the surrounding bush as they escaped the area,” said Ephias Ndlovu.

Stuli 3 Sabhuku Clever Dube said farmers who planted early have been the most affected by the elephant invasions and are now at high risk of falling into poverty.

“These elephants mainly destroyed farms with well-developed crops, wiping out entire fields overnight and leaving nothing but bare land.

“Farmers in wards 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 24 are likely to face serious food shortages, particularly those who lost their crops to elephants,” he said.

Dube appealed to the government to carry out assessments and provide food assistance to affected households, warning that without support, poverty will deepen in the area.

Gwanda Rural District Council Chairperson, Cllr Mphathiswa Ncube, who is also the Ward 18 councillor, said elephants have become a serious menace in Gwanda South, particularly in wards 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 24.

“Farmers had hoped for a good harvest this season following the favourable rains. However, the situation has changed drastically as elephants began roaming through the area, destroying fields and leaving many households without any crops. As a result, farmers have lost hope of a successful harvest, and the threat of hunger now looms over families whose fields were destroyed.

“it is impossible to chase away elephants once they invade a field, forcing farmers to mobilise the entire community and seek assistance from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, whose expertise is required to handle such dangerous encounters safely,” Ncube said.

He added that when the elephant was shot it brought happiness to farmers.

“Last Saturday at around 11:00 pm, two elephants were found inside Maphala’s farm. With the assistance of the local community and individuals experienced in wildlife matters, a nearby team from the Zimbabwe National Parks responded. One elephant was shot more than eight times and died on the spot, while the other managed to escape,” he said.

He added that they hope the gunshots scared away other elephants that were nearby and that they will not return.

“We hope this served as a warning to other elephants. As a community, we are exhausted by these animals. We have lost our crops, and we are now afraid to visit our fields at night or even send children there because we do not know what might happen,” he said.

He further expressed relief that the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority finally responded swiftly, and the intervention has brought renewed hope to affected farmers.

However, he noted that several elephant herds are still roaming in the area and it remains unclear whether other groups might return.

“These elephants move in many groups, and we are not sure if all of them heard the gunshots. Time will tell whether we will receive more reports of elephants invading farms,” he said.

Ward 18 Councillor Ncube urged farmers to report any sightings of elephants immediately so that the Parks team can be notified in time to address the situation.

He also explained that after the elephant was killed, members of the community from neighbouring wards shared the meat equally, while the tusks were taken by the Parks team. The skin was handed over to Gwanda Rural District Council for sale, with proceeds expected to be channelled back into supporting local communities.

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