NDUNO – The quiet community of Nduno village in the Kavango West region is mourning following the horrific death of Thomas Kandandu (74), who was killed by an elephant early Wednesday morning. 

The incident occurred at approximately 04h00 on Wednesday, as Kandandu and his wife were making their way to their crop field to begin the day’s work. 

According to police reports, the couple was walking together when Kandandu briefly separated from his wife to enter a nearby bush. His wife continued toward the crop field, expecting him to follow shortly. When he failed to arrive after some time, a search began. 

“The deceased’s wife alerted fellow villagers, who immediately launched a search operation. They eventually discovered the elderly man’s body in the bush. 

Evidence at the scene, including massive footprints surrounding the body, indicated that Kandandu had encountered an elephant that chased and then trampled him multiple times,’’ said Kavango West police commander Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo. 

Sakuwa-Neo further stated that the victim was a well-known resident of the village and his next of kin have been formally notified of the incident. 

This latest fatality highlights the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region, where farmers, community members and wildlife frequently compete for space and resources. 

Residents are urged to remain vigilant, especially during the early morning and late evening hours when elephants are most active. They must also report all sightings to the ministry of environment or police. 

-jmuyamba@nepc.com.na