A Victoria Falls man is hogging the limelight in the resort town for walking 70km every day to Kazungula Border Post to scare away dangerous animals that prey on haulage trucks awaiting clearance at the port of entry.
By Nokuthaba Dlamini
The man, who is believed to be mentally challenged, walks barefoot and videos of him warding off animals such as elephants often go viral on social media. Last Wednesday, the man brought business to a standstill at the Zimbabwean side of the border with Botswana, after he chased away a herd of elephants that had descended on a haulage truck that was carrying maize.
Truck drivers said they were usually attacked by elephants that try to destroy their cargo, but the man often came to their rescue.
A video taken by immigration officials shows the man fighting off a herd of elephants that were trying to overturn three haulage trucks.
Five of the bull elephants charged at the man, but retreated after he pelted them with stones.
“He walks 70 kilometres every day to Kazungula from Victoria Falls and he goes back to town in the evening. He just comes to loiter at the border and look after trucks and people,” said Fortune Ncube, an immigration official.
“He doesn’t talk to anyone, the only thing he does is to monitor animals like elephants and baboons that are always charging at people and vandalising goods.” Ncube added: “On Thursday morning, elephants ripped off a 30-tonne truck, which had maize grain.
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“They target those trucks covered by canvas. Up to now, the maize is still scattered and they come to feed on the grain. It happened when the man had not yet arrived.”
The truck drivers described the man as their friend who protected them from dangerous animals.
