Online Reporter
Getrude Manyande [email protected]
ONE of two Bulawayo men arrested for possessing 20 pangolin scales valued at US$5 000 has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Pangolins are classified as specially protected animals under the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Thandoyenkosi Ndlovu (28) of Entumbane suburb was convicted on his own plea of guilty to unlawfully possessing a specially protected animal trophy in contravention of Section 45(1)(b), as read with Section 128(1)(b), of the Parks and Wildlife Act [Chapter 20:14], as amended.
He was sentenced by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube. Ndlovu’s alleged accomplice, Thandile Sibanda (23) of Bilazi Farm in Khami, pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to July 21 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Tafara Dzimbanhete told the court that on July 3, at about 9AM, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Bulawayo received information that the two men were in possession of pangolin scales and were looking for a buyer.
Acting on the tip-off, detectives obtained Ndlovu’s cellphone number and deployed an undercover officer who posed as a prospective buyer.
“After the detectives got Ndlovu’s number, they pretended to be potential buyers of the pangolin scales. They agreed to meet near Khami Prison Canteen to finalise the deal,” said Mr Dzimbanhete.
The court heard that at around 4PM, detectives proceeded to the agreed meeting point. The undercover officer remained in contact with Ndlovu while other officers maintained surveillance in the area.
“The two accused persons entered the vehicle being driven by the undercover detective posing as the buyer. The other detectives then identified themselves and conducted a search, leading to the recovery of 20 pangolin scales wrapped in plastic and concealed inside a green bread plastic bag,” the prosecutor said.
Following the recovery, the accused persons were asked to produce a licence or permit authorising them to possess the pangolin scales but failed to do so, leading to their arrest.
The recovered scales were taken to ZimPost in Bulawayo, where they were weighed in the presence of the accused and found to weigh 0,176 kilogrammes.
They were subsequently examined by an ecologist from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), who confirmed that they were pangolin scales.
