By: Annakleta Haikera
Last Friday, residents of Kamutjonga Village in Mukwe Constituency held a peaceful demonstration to highlight a surge in wildlife encounters.
Over the past two months, two minors have tragically lost their lives to crocodile attacks.
Residents expressed frustration that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MEFT) has not provided adequate compensation to affected families.
Speaking to The Villager, community members said the lack of support intensifies economic hardships, as human-wildlife conflicts directly impact their livelihoods. As a result, they are calling for urgent intervention and sustainable solutions to protect both lives and the local economy.
Aron Mundanya, one of the residents, pointed to the need for greater awareness and action, noting that about 15 people have reportedly lost their lives to wildlife attacks in the area since 2020.
“We have reported the issue to the conservancy staff, but for the past five years, no meaningful action has been taken,” Mundanya said.
Meanwhile, Bagani settlement headman, Haimbili Max, spoke to the community’s plight of lacking access to clean water, which forces villagers to risk their lives daily along the crocodile-infested Kavango River.
“The river is our only source of water. If everyone in the village dies from crocodile and hippo attacks, who will be left to vote for change?” Max queried.
He criticised the ministry for failing to provide practical solutions, including tap water or boreholes, adding that challenges such as elephants destroying crops and lions attacking livestock only exacerbate the current living conditions. Max called for the compensation of affected community members and the implementation of effective safety measures, as opposed to mere warnings to keep clear of the river.
Mukwe Constituency Councillor Damian Maghambayi echoed the calls for government intervention, sharing that most victims are young people. He suggested a dedicated emergency task team within the ministry be formed to respond timeously to human-wildlife conflict incidents.
“I can confidently repeat what I said during the National Conference on Human and Wildlife Conflict; a task team or emergency division is essential, but nothing has been done to date,” Maghambayi said.
He also expressed frustration over the slow compensation process, noting that families are still waiting despite having been asked to open bank accounts.
“In 2022, we managed to provide maize meal assistance, but much more needs to be done,” he added.
Maghambayi pledged to personally deliver the residents’ petition to the Environment ministry, stressing that urgent action is needed to protect lives and livelihoods along the river.
Residents continue to appeal for stronger safety measures, including patrols, fencing, and improved measures of dealing with the presence of crocodiles.
Tragically, on 29 September 2025, a nine-month-old baby was grabbed from its mother’s arms by a crocodile and killed. Less than a month later, Munika Justina Dishaka, aged nine, was attacked and killed by a crocodile while on the riverbank with her mother on 25 October 2025.
The petitioners request that MEFT addresses this matter accordingly and provide a plan of action within 14 days of receiving the petition. The demands include immediate compensation for those who have sustained serious injuries from wild animal attacks and for the families who have lost their loved ones.
Residents also expressed their willingness to collaborate with the ministry to find a sustainable solution that protects both communities and local wildlife, warning that continued inaction may force them to take matters into their own hands to protect themselves from further attacks.
The Villager reached out to MEFT spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, who stated that she would be in communication with the ministry’s staff in the Kavango East Region and provide a response to the petitions submitted.
