Better to sell snake oil than lion skulls

SHELTON CHIBAYA (36) and Benedict Mutinhima (31) are this week’s shining examples of how not to get rich quick.

Apparently, the duo thought they had found a good business opportunity — selling lion skulls.

Chibaya and Mutinhima, who work at the Kyle Recreational Park in Masvingo, decided to take five lion skulls from a bush near Liveson Wild Farm.

With their ill-gotten loot tucked away, they high-tailed to Harare.

They stashed the skulls at Mazowe Mansion flats while they “looked for buyers”.

All was set for a huge payday.

Unfortunately, the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit got wind of lion skulls on sale.

Disguised as eager buyers, they lured Chibaya and his other accomplice, Patson Ndlovu, who is now in remand prison.

The undercover detectives offered U$1 500 for each of the lion heads.

And just when the sellers thought they were about to close the deal, the detectives revealed themselves, and Chibaya and Ndlovu were arrested.

Mutinhima was also later arrested.

Oh, by the way, it turns out the lion skulls were reportedly worth a cool US$100 000.

Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo fined Chibaya and Mutinhima US$100 each, which was a slap on the wrist considering it could have been worse.