By ANDREW MUKOMA
A HERD of three elephants is causing havoc in Songwe village in Mukuni chiefdom destroying people’s gardens and other properties.
On the night of Thursday morning, the elephant stormed the School garden and teacher’s garden destroying crops worthy a total cost of K19,380 belonging to the school which could have been realised if sold.
School Head teacher Patrick Kayiwala confirmed the destruction of the school garden and orchard as well as the teachers’ garden to the Daily Nation in Nsongwe yesterday.
“When we heard the noise, we started making noise by beating pots and plates just to scare them. They were three big elephants and quiet scary,” he explained.
“You know how elephants are, no one could come out in the night to chase them. As you might be aware, just three weeks ago, we were burying a community member who was killed by an elephant,” Mr Kayiwala said .
“What we suspect is that after noting that the cabbage had chemicals since we sprayed the day before yesterday, then they opted not to eat the vegetables and that is how they went to my garden and the deputy’s garden,” narrated.
“We are appealing to the department of national parks and wildlife to deal with this situation of elephants. We have learners who can no longer attend classes and even teachers for fear of their lives because of these elephants,” he said
Mr Kayiwala said school authorities were now living in fear that the jumbos might get back and destroy the remaining vegetables and fruits in the school garden and orchard.
He explained that the school has embarked on serious production unit and it was its intention to contribute to the operations of the school.
“The elephants have brought down all the efforts the school is doing but we will not be distracted and I want to appreciate the efforts by teachers and Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) to improve the economy of the school,” he said.
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