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Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
TWO men from Mabvuku suburb in Harare, who were found in possession of raw ivory weighing about 20kg with an estimated value of US$3 281, have been arraigned before the courts.
Bernard Chiumbe (50) and Vincent Chiumbe (25) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Caroline Matanga yesterday charged with unlawful possession of raw ivory.
They were advised to apply for bail at the High Court and to return to court on July 8.
Prosecuting, Mr Rufaro Chonzi alleged that on June 17 at around 3:52pm, detectives received information that the accused persons were in possession of ivory in Mabvuku and were looking for buyers.
Acting on the information, one of the police officers managed to get Bernard’s contact numbers and phoned him posing as a potential ivory buyer.
He agreed to meet the purported buyer at Old Tafara Shopping Centre.
The court heard the detectives teamed up with other officers and proceeded to the meeting place in two vehicles.
Upon arrival, the detective who pretended to be a buyer went to the vehicle where he spoke to Bernard and they agreed to complete the transaction at Sunbird Tarven Bar, which is a distance away from the shops.
Bernard went to Sunbird Tarven Bar on foot and agreed to meet with the buyer after 15 minutes when the truck carrying the ivory would be at the same place.
The detective was shown the ivory which was placed at the front passenger’s seat and Vincent opened the white sack to reveal two elephant tusks.
The detective coded others who came to arrest the duo.
However, after noticing that the purported buyers are police officers, Bernard sped off with the ivory in the truck and the detectives gave chase.
He was subdued at Chemhanza Ground which is about 800 metres away from the Sunbird Tarven Bar and detectives returned to arrest Vincent, who was still around the Bar area.
The accused persons were asked to produce documentation authorising them to possess the ivory, but they failed, leading to their arrest.
The Parks and Wildlife officials assayed and examined the recovered ivory which weighed 19,30 kilogrammes and was valued at US$3 281.
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