adminAdmore Mbonda and Sharon Chikowore
A Hurungwe man was on Tuesday jailed for nine years after he was found in possession of two elephant tusks worth over US$2 000 in Kazangarare recently.
Tendai Reason Jumbarukuru (32) of Chief Kazangarare’s area in Hurungwe District had denied the charges when his trial opened before Kariba magistrate Mr Toindepi Zhou, who convicted him due to overwhelming evidence.
Jumbarukura was facing charges of contravening Section 82 of Statutory Instrument 362 of 1990 as read with Section 128 of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20.14.
Prosecutor Mr Philip Urayai told the court that on April 8 this year, members of the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit received a tip-off that there were some villagers in possession of elephant tasks.
The police details proceeded to Dete Business Centre where an informer identified Jumbarukuru, and the officers pretended to be ivory buyers.
Mr Urayai said Jumbarukuru left the business centre to collect the ivory, promising to meet the buyers later that night at Dete Bus Stop which is approximately 4,5km away from the shopping centre.
Police laid an ambush at the bus stop were two of the details pretended to be the buyers and Jumbarukuru arrived at the appointment time carrying a green sack.
The prosecutor said Jumbarukuru asked the buyers to disembark from the car as he was not comfortable dealing with them inside a vehicle.
One policeman with a scale went with Jumbarukuru into a nearby bush to weigh the ivory when the other details pounced on the suspect who had tusks weighing 8,885 kgs.
The police arrested Jumbarukuru while the ivory was recovered.
Online Reporter