KATIMA MULILO – Sibbinda residents in Zambezi are living in fear, as hippos, elephants and lions have been spotted roaming through their villages.

According to affected farmers in Sibbinda, the unusual movement of wildlife in the area started after recent flash floods left large parts of Sibbinda submerged, creating conditions that allow animals to wander far from their normal habitats.

Former parliamentarian and Sibbinda councillor Mickey Lukaezi confirmed this.

The flooding has left large areas covered in water, forcing animals to move through villages in search of dry ground and food. 

Lukaezi said the situation became alarming on 27 February when two hippos were spotted crossing near a homestead in Sibbinda. “The matter was reported to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, which sent officials to drive the animals back to safer areas,” he said.

However, despite attempts to push the animals away, residents continued to spot hippos in the area. Earlier this week, another hippo was seen crossing through the village and heading in the direction of the Kwando River. The presence of hippos in the village has raised concern among residents because Sibbinda is located about 70 kilometres from the Zambezi River and roughly 60 kilometres from the Kwando River, where such animals are usually found.

“It is the first time in our history to see lions moving in big groups here,” Lukaezi said. “When we looked at the footprints, we saw many of them, maybe seven, eight or nine lions.” Local farmers say the animals are not only frightening residents but are also destroying crops and threatening livestock.

Another affected farmer and Sibbinda resident, Simamezi Tuombale, said villagers woke up on Tuesday to the sound of barking dogs, only to discover that a hippo had passed through the area during the night.

“Just this morning [Tuesday] around 04h00, our dogs were tracking something. We later realised it was a hippo passing through the village,” Tuombale said.

On Monday, “there were elephants in my brother’s field. They destroyed crops like maize and pumpkins.” Tuombale said cattle herders are now afraid to take livestock into the bush because of elephants and lions roaming nearby. The flooding has also worsened livestock health problems. Lukaezi said goats are developing mouth sores because they are eating wet leaves, while cattle are suffering from hoof problems caused by muddy conditions.

“Goats are browsers, and when they eat wet leaves, they develop sores in their mouths. Cattle are also limping because of the mud,” he said.

Besides wildlife threats, residents are also facing snake bites due to the flooding. 

Lukaezi said he recently assisted two people who were bitten by snakes and rushed them to the Sibbinda clinic. “They were treated immediately, and fortunately they survived,” he said. Access to services has also become difficult, as some roads in the area are flooded. The road between Sibbinda and Linyanti is currently closed, while other gravel roads are badly damaged and difficult to use. Residents say patients travelling to the Sibbinda health centre are sometimes dropped along the tar road because drivers refuse to risk driving through flooded sections.

“They have to walk about two and a half kilometres to reach the clinic,” Lukaezi said.

Community members are now calling on the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to strengthen its presence in the area by deploying wildlife rangers to help manage the situation. They are also appealing for a review of compensation policies for crop damage caused by wildlife.

According to Lukaezi, current policies only compensate farmers if at least one hectare of crops is destroyed.

“Most communal farmers have fields of about three hectares. If elephants damage less than a hectare, farmers receive nothing,” he said. Meanwhile, Leeverty Muyoba, the control warden for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in the Zambezi region, was not available for comment. Despite the challenges, residents remain hopeful that authorities will intervene before the situation escalates into a tragedy.  -anakale@nepc.com.na