Zim GBC News | Mat North Correspondent
VICTORIA FALLS – A wave of grief and fear has swept through the resort City of Victoria Falls after a female security guard was trampled to death by an elephant in the high-density suburb of Chinotimba early Sunday morning, marking the second fatal human-wildlife encounter in just over a week.
The woman, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of her next of kin, was on duty guarding a booster station when the animal charged at her. Her lifeless body was discovered at dawn by a passer-by .
The tragedy comes barely a week after 42-year-old Gift Siziba, an employee of local hospitality firm Wild Horizons, was fatally attacked by an elephant in the nearby Mkhosana Suburb .
Siziba was reportedly on his way to attend a colleague’s funeral when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the elephant confronted him near a residential property, grabbed him, and dragged him for some distance before kneeling and trampling him .
The back-to-back fatalities have left residents of the city, which lies adjacent to wildlife migration corridors, rattled and fearful.
“We are living in constant fear. This is now a terrifying daily reality,” said a resident of Chinotimba who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“You cannot even walk to work or stand guard at night without wondering if an elephant will come. Something must be done urgently.”
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the latest incident, but the escalating encounters have intensified calls for immediate intervention to address the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region . Following the previous week’s attack, the elephant reportedly retreated into nearby bushland, highlighting the proximity of residential areas to wildlife habitats .
The recurring tragedies have spotlighted the precarious coexistence between communities and wildlife in Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Zimbabwe’s premier tourist destinations.
Residents are now demanding enhanced protective measures and a comprehensive strategy from wildlife management authorities to prevent further loss of life.
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