Game rangers jailed for fatal ‘poacher’ assault in Gweru

THREE game rangers who brutally assaulted a suspected poacher to death in Gweru three years ago have each been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Knowledge Mugwise (31) of Samboko Village under Chief Mkoka in Gokwe, Philip Kampanje (26) of Chiwodza Village in Chirumhanzu and Alex Ngwenya (48) of Ruby Plot 83 in Gweru, all employed at Langton Safari Ranch, were convicted of murder in connection with the death of Mr Ngqabutho Ngwenya (38) in January 2022.

They had tendered a limited plea of guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, sitting on circuit in Gweru, castigated the trio’s actions, describing them as reckless and unlawful.

“The accused persons acted illegally as they had no arresting powers outside their jurisdiction.
“They went to the suspected poacher’s homestead without involving police officers who had the authority to arrest.

To make matters worse, they couldn’t find the alleged meat, yet still chose to assault the deceased,” said Justice Mutevedzi.

He said their overzealous conduct, which included breaking into Ngwenya’s home, chasing him, and assaulting him with sticks, was unjustifiable and led to unnecessary loss of life.

The prosecutor, Mr Michael Mhene, told the court that on January 3, 2022, at around 5.30PM, Mugwise, Kampanje, Ngwenya and three others, still at large — Mark Bondiwa, Stephen Zuze and Kelvin Nyamasoka — stormed Mr Ngwenya’s homestead at Plot 42, Hampton Branch in Torvo, Gweru.

They allegedly intended to arrest him for suspected poaching at Langton Ranch.
“They found him asleep in his bedroom. The accused broke down his door, forcing him to flee. They pursued him and, after catching up with him, took turns to strike him with sticks all over the body,” said Mr Mhene.

The court heard that the rangers then forcibly took Mr Ngwenya to Langton Safari Ranch, where they continued beating him. He later succumbed to the injuries.

A post-mortem conducted at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) indicated that the cause of death was encephalic contusion, cranial trauma and assault.

A report was made to the police, leading to the trio’s arrest.
Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt for the three accomplices who are still at large.