ELEPHANTS CLAIMS SEVEN LIVES IN MACHINGA

Two ruthless elephants believed to have come from Mozambique killed seven people in Machinga, Monday morning.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Liwonde National Park, Blessings Msikuwanga confirmed the death of the seven with Malawi News Agency(Mana).

He identified the seven as Sidreck Mtemba, 85, from Mitawa Village, and 8 year old Alesi John of Sineda village. The two hailed from Traditional Authority Liwonde. TA Liwonde also lost 62 year old Laje Salande.

Three others; James Mkonda, 95, Sawajira Alisa, 65 and 76 year old Silunda Taimu hailed from Traditional Authority Kawinga in the district and the seventh, Manes George,60, hailed from Mpama Village, Traditional Authority Makhuwira in Chikwawa.

The two elephants came through Machinga South East and people in the area suggested that they were from Mozambique.

According to Liwonde National Park’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Blessings Msikuwanga, elephants from Liwonde National Park do cross over to Mozambique and in some instance, elephants from Mozambique also enter Liwonde National Park.

“This happens,” according to Msikuwanga who said investigations to establish where the two came from were underway.

But Msikuwanga said this was the highest death toll recorded in recent history.

The two elephants have since entered Liwonde National Park.