adminTalent Simbi Post Correspondent
TWO men from Hamunakwadi village under chief Mutasa learnt the hard way that poaching does not pay after they were ordered to pay USD$100 fine each and USD$2000 compensation to National Parks after they were caught red-handed with carcasses of bushbucks which they had killed and skinned in Nyahwari Estate.
Appearing before Nyanga Provincial magistrate, Mr Ignatio Mhene, Herbert Hamunakwadi(26) and Lovemore Nyagura(43) pleaded guilty to the charges but said they had no hunting intentions but it was their two dogs which tracked and killed the bushbuck. In passing his judgment the magistrate said dogs were always supposed to be on a leash when going out and cases of poaching were rampant in the district and the National Parks Authorities were calling for stern sentences against perpetrators.
The state heard though prosecutor Mr Zivanai Gombarume that on the 20th of November 2014 the accused went out from their village to Nyahwari Estate, Mutasa hunting with their dogs. They then set out their dogs on a bushbuck, which they killed and skinned. They stashed the meat into their bags.
They were caught red handed by Paul Kuwanza and Foster Musengudza who arrested them and recovered the carcass.
The value of the bushbuck was estimated at USD$ 2000 and was not recovered.
Meanwhile, Never Kamutsamba of Mutsamba village under Chief Mutasa was also ordered to pay USD$ 100 or face 3 months imprisonment after he was caught with wire snares used to trap animals.
The prosecutor told the court that on 13 December at Claremont orchards at around 1400 hours, Mathew Mugoti of Nyanga National Parks who was on patrol caught Never in possession of wire snares.
The trapping wires were brought to Nyanga ZRP as an exhibit.
Online Reporter