In the rural communities of Kariba and the surrounding fishing camps along Lake Kariba, survival often depends on outrunning the wild.
As dusk falls, farmers like Emmanuel Macheka head to their fields knowing the night could turn deadly.
“We live in fear,” Macheka says, recalling the night his neighbour was dragged into the lake by a crocodile. “We shout and scream, but no one comes to help.”
Musambakaruma, a settlement a few kilometres from the lake, has recorded repeated cases of human-wildlife conflict.
In 2019, a 45-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant while guarding his maize field, leaving residents shaken and afraid to return to their land.
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“Elephants are a blessing and a curse,” says village head Samuel Muroweyi. “They bring tourists, but they also bring death. We need protection for our people and crops.”
Mola community has faced similar tragedies. In 2017, a farmer was killed by an elephant while protecting his sorghum field. Villagers guard their crops in shifts through the night.
“We are not just fighting hunger; we are fighting for our lives,” says resident Rachel Mutamba.
At Gache-Gache and Nyaodza fishing camps, elephants and hippos roam freely, threatening both lives and livelihoods.
“Some nights we do not sleep,” says Gache-Gache Fishing Camp chairperson Tichaona Manzungu. “We stay awake listening for danger.
It’s a life of fear.”
In Hurungwe, elephants are destroying crops while hyenas prey on livestock.
“We need help to protect ourselves and our livelihoods,” resident Mary Chigwira.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), reported human-wildlife conflict cases increased from 1 654 in 2024 to 2 090 in 2025 — a 26% rise. Livestock losses more than doubled, from 362 to 801.
ZimParks has identified Kariba, Mbire, Chiredzi, Binga, Hwange, Hurungwe and Nyaminyami as hotspots, with elephants, crocodiles and hyenas the most reported species.
Recent incidents underscore the danger. Last month, a woman was injured by an elephant while guarding her field in Matumbu village. In November 2025, a Kariba District Hospital employee was trampled to death in the Heights suburb. In September 2024, 47-year-old Scotch Gawa Mpofu was killed in Batonga suburb, while a 54-year-old woman recently died in the Charara Safari Area.
Crocodile attacks are also increasing. In November 2024, a 22-year-old man was killed in the Kalonda River, a tributary of Lake Kariba. In May 2025, a fisherman was killed at Chikuyu fishing camp. In December 2025, a 42-year-old man died at Zebra Island. Most recently, in February 2026, a three-year-old child was killed in Matetsi River.
Government has responded through the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act No 4 of 2025, which establishes a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund to compensate victims or their families.
The fund will be financed through hunting quotas, a 0,5% levy on tourism and wildlife businesses, and parliamentary allocations. Claims must be submitted within 12 months and supported
by police and medical reports.
Environment, Climate and Wildlife deputy minister, John Paradza, emphasises the need for coexistence with wildlife, saying, “We continue to encourage co-existence, awareness and sensitisation meetings.”
Yet for families along Lake Kariba, each sunset still signals another night of uncertainty — and another battle to survive.-newsda
