Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A HWANGE based mine worker has been sentenced to nine years in jail after he was found with a pangolin skin.
Edmond Zulu (45) of C83 Lwendulu in Hwange was convicted on his own plea by Matabeleland North magistrate-in-charge Mr Tomupei Zhou.
He was sentenced to nine years in jail.
A pangolin is an endangered species according to the country’s laws and possessing it attracts a mandatory nine-year jail term.
Shelton Sibanda who was jointly charged with Zulu, had charges against him withdrawn before plea.
Zulu who was represented by Miss Charity Manyeza of Mashindi and Associates, was employed by R Davis Company as a mine blast technician.
Prosecuting, Ms Jamesina Makanza said Zulu violated sections of the Parks and Wildlife Act.
“On 17 August 2021 at 6pm detectives received information to the effect that the accused person was in possession of a pangolin skin which he was selling in Mbizha area near Victoria Falls. Acting on the information, the detectives teamed up with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers and proceeded to the place along the Hwange-Victoria Falls road,” said Ms Makanza.
Upon arrival, the team saw Zulu standing by the roadside carrying a blue bag and his clothes matched the description that had been given to them.
Detectives approached him and introduced themselves. They asked to search his bag and recovered one pangolin skin with 319 scales. Zulu was arrested after he failed to produce a permit allowing him to possess the pangolin scales. The scales weighed three kilogrammes and were forfeited to the State.-@ncubeleon
Online Reporter