By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
A 54-year-old woman has died after a fatal encounter with an African elephant in Mukuni Chiefdom’s Siamapa Village in Livingstone District, Southern part of Zambia.
The Ministry of Tourism, through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), confirmed the incident in a statement.
According to the Ministry, the incident happened between 22:00 hours and 23:00 hours on the night of April 24. The deceased has been identified as Ms. Lozia Ngawaka, a resident of Siamapa Village.
Principal Public Relations Officer Nelly Banda said preliminary reports indicate that Ms. Ngawaka was walking with her husband from Mukuni Palace towards Siamapa Village when they encountered a roaming elephant in a known wildlife movement corridor.
“The elephant is believed to have charged during the encounter, resulting in the fatality. The husband survived the incident,” Ms. Banda said.
She added that a DNPW field team has since been dispatched to the area to verify details, assess the situation and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
“The remains of the deceased have been collected and deposited at Batoka Mortuary pending burial arrangements,” Ms. Banda stressed.
Initial assessments suggest the animal may have reacted defensively due to close proximity and reduced visibility at night, a time when elephants are usually more active.
Ms. Banda urged people living near wildlife corridors to exercise caution and avoid moving during late hours, warning that such movement increases the risk of dangerous encounters with wild animals.
The Ministry is intensifying community sensitization programmes, strengthening early warning systems and promoting appropriate deterrent measures in high-risk areas.
