Cyanide dealers arrested

Victoria Falls Reporter
TWO men from Victoria Falls have been arrested after they were found in possession of cyanide, a dangerous chemical that was used by poachers to kill elephants last year. Namatani Ndlovu, 30, of Mkhosana and Calvin Murapata, 22, of Chinotimba appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate yesterday charged with violating the Environment Management Act, which criminalises the sale of any poisonous substance by an unlicensed person.

The duo was not asked to plead, but applied for bail through lawyer Thulani Nkala.
Magistrate Sharon Rosemani is expected to deliver the bail ruling today. They were arrested after selling the cyanide following a trap, and the money that was used as part of the trap was recovered at a bar in Mkhosana where they had bought some beer.

The state is opposing bail on grounds that Ndlovu and Murapata could interfere with witnesses and abscond if released. The two were also alleged to be having other pending crimes, a claim that was dismissed by the defence lawyer.

For the state, Takunda Ndovorwi said on August 23, Ndlovu and Murapata sold 340g of cyanide granules to Norest Makhuyana, who will testify as a state witness.

“On August 23 the accused sold the cyanide granules to Norest Makhuyana which is contrary to the provisions of the Act,” he said.
The country lost more than 100 elephants last year through cyanide poisoning by poachers in Hwange National Park. The government has stepped up measures to arrest the problem.