Citizens Push for Community-Led Wildlife Governance as Elephants Destroy Crops in Chibuwe

NewsChipinge— Calls for community-driven wildlife governance grew louder in Chipinge this week after two elephants were killed in Chibuwe Ward 20 of Mutema–Musikavanhu Constituency following a fresh incident of crop destruction in irrigation fields and women-run community gardens.The elephants, believed to have strayed from Save Valley Conservancy, destroyed vegetables and horticultural produce vital for household nutrition and women’s income generation. Farmers said the losses further strain families already battling rising production costs.Last week, the Joint Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife and the Thematic Committee on Climate Change held public hearings in Chipinge on the Climate Change Management Bill (H.B.

5, 2025).The hearings saw overwhelming input from citizens, who demanded that the law strengthen protections for communities facing increasing wildlife incursions linked to climate change impacts.Chipinge Residents and Ratepayers Trust (CRRT), which presented during the hearing, stressed that wildlife management must shift power to local people.“Communities live with the risks every day. Governance must be local-owned, led and driven — ensuring communities benefit from wildlife and are compensated when losses occur,” said CRRT Team Leader Mr.

Allanviny Murozvi.Projects Kuchengetedza Zviwanikwa (PKZ) echoed the concern, noting that government’s failure to operationalise the Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund is directly harming women’s livelihoods.> “Women are repeatedly losing crops and income, yet the compensation framework is not functioning.

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