Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A 30-YEAR-OLD man from Gwayi in Hwange District has been jailed for an effective 12 months for poaching and stealing US$1,885 in school fees.
Delight Dhladhla was convicted of theft and contravening the Trapping of Animals (Control) Act by Hwange provincial magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Kabasa-Banzo.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison for both offences, but six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period, leaving him with 12 months to serve.
Dhladhla was also ordered to compensate Painted Dogs Conservation US$1,500 for the loss of an aardvark killed in one of his snares. The snares and the carcass were forfeited to the State.
Prosecuting, Ms Chido Tshuma said on October 24, Dhladhla set two class-one wire snares in a bushy area of Gwayi with the intention of trapping wild animals. One of the snares caught an aardvark valued at US$1 500.
Painted Dogs Conservation ranger Thokozani Moyo acted on a tip-off from a villager and, together with colleagues, tracked Dhladhla to a beerhall at Gwayi Business Centre.
When confronted, he admitted setting the snares and led the rangers to the site, where the trapped aardvark was found. A police report was made, leading to his arrest.
In a separate case, Dhladhla was also convicted of stealing school fees while working at Detema Secondary School in Dete. Between December last year and August this year, he received US$2,441 in school fees from learners but recorded only US$556 in the official receipt book, converting US$1,885 to his own use.
The discrepancy was uncovered during an internal audit in July 2025. A report was made to the police, leading to his arrest. None of the stolen money has been recovered.
