Elephant kills woman, Mob torches African parks vehicles

An angry mob in Nkhotakota has set ablaze two vehicles belonging to African National Parks manning Nkhotakota game reserve after an elephant suspected to have bolted the park killed a woman in the district.

According to public relations officer for Nkhotakota police station sub inspector Williams Kaponda the incident occurred on Friday at Bamba village in the area of Traditional Authority Nkhanga in the district.

On the day the deceased with her husband went to their farm which is metres away from Nkhotakota game reserve.

“In course of farming an elephant approached which frightened the two and they separately ran away. Unfortunately an elephant got hold of a woman and killed her on spot,” Kaponda says

Following the incident Nkhotakota game reserve officials and police rushed to the place.

However they were greeted by angry villagers who started beating them.

This was after blocking the road with the trees making it impassable.

“Two motorvehicles belonging to African parks were burnt hwile two officers David Robertson field operation officer and a game ranger Thomson Mizeck were seriously injured. The victims were rushed to NKhotakota district hospital where they were treated,” adds Kaponda

Thereafter additional police were called together with Nkhotakota district commissioner Dr Medson Matchaya, Nkhotakota police officer in charge senior assistant commissioner of police Timothy Phiri, African parks manager Samuel Kamoto among others calmed the situation.

The deceased Sabitha Banda 21 hailed from Nambamba village in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhadza in Dowa district.