adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A MAN from Lupote in Hwange District has been jailed nine years for possessing a pangolin. Moses Masuku, 24, of Kabombo Village, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a specially protected animal when he appeared before Hwange magistrate in charge Rose Dube yesterday. Masuku claimed an unnamed man had reported him to the police after they failed to agree on a price for the animal.
He told the court that the animal strayed into his homestead.
“The pangolin just came to my homestead and I caught it. I intended to sell it for $2,000 but the buyer offered $1,000. He then went on to inform the police because we couldn’t agree on a price,” said Masuku when asked why he kept the pangolin.
Prosecuting, Onias Nyathi said a team comprising police from the Minerals Border Control Unit and National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority received information that Masuku was in possession of a pangolin on Tuesday.
“The team recovered one live pangolin valued at $5,000,” said Nyathi.
Masuku was arrested when he couldn’t produce a licence for keeping the animal.
derick.khumalo