Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
IN probably a first of its kind case involving wildlife crimes in Zimbabwe, a professional hunter was recently convicted of failing to prevent an unlawful hunt after his client put down the wrong animal that was not on the hunting quota allocated to a safari company.
Lance Frederich Nesbitt, a 54-year-old professional hunter residing at House Number 41 Circular Drive in Burnside, Bulawayo was convicted by Hwange provincial magistrate Miss Fungai Dzimiri for contravening Section 123(9) of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14 as read with part 5 of the hunters permit that is, “Failing to comply with terms and conditions of hunter’s permit.”
The State managed to prove its case in which Nesbitt failed to prevent an unlawful hunt by his client, Henner Heise who hunted and killed a female buffalo which was not part of a hunting quota allocated to Mabalengwe Safari instead of a male buffalo.
However, in his defence Nesbitt who was denying the charge through his lawyer, Mr Matshobana Ncube of Ncube Attorneys argued that he took all reasonable steps to prevent an unlawful hunt and that his client “accidentally” shot the female buffalo three times, killing it.
He was slapped with a fine of US$300 while three months were wholly suspended on the usual conditions before he was ordered to pay compensation of the female buffalo in the sum of US$8 000.
Mr Enos Mudenda, an investigating officer with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority stationed at Hwange National Park investigated the case.
According to the State led by prosecutors, Miss Pride Mharadza and Miss Matsiliso Tlou, during the year 2023, Unit 1 Mabalengwe Safari, Matetsi was allocated 20 male buffaloes among other animals for the purposes of hunting and no female buffaloes were given on its quota.
On 7 October 2023 at around 5pm, a Parks ranger, Mirriam Mungombe was deployed to Unit 1, Mabalengwe Safari, Matetsi, where she was to accompany and monitor the hunt that was to be conducted by Nesbitt and his client Heise which was to commence on 8 October.
The hunt began on the said day and spilled into the following day at about 8.30am when the hunting party saw buffalo spoors which they tracked until they reached their herd.
They waited and monitored the herd until around 11.30am. Heise then identified the buffalo with the trophy he sought before he received the green light to shoot it whereupon he proceeded to fire his rifle killing it on the spot.
On approaching the shot buffalo, the hunting party discovered that it was a female buffalo and not a male one. That led to a report being made at Matetsi Safari Parks’ head office where the carcass of the female buffalo was surrendered.
The carcass of the buffalo was scientifically examined by an ecologist and it was confirmed to be that of a female.
The ecologist report, weighing certificate and the carcass of the female buffalo were produced in court as exhibits.
The total value of the female buffalo that was killed is US$8 000 which the court ordered Nesbitt to pay.
Online Reporter