Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Reporter
A 49-YEAR-OLD woman from Matobo District has been sentenced to nine years in prison after she was found in possession of 1,3 kilogrammes of pangolin scales valued at US$5 000.
Janet Ngwenya of Emkoka Village pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a specially protected animal trophy in violation of the Parks and Wildlife Act when she appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube, who convicted her on her own plea.
In sentencing her, Mr Ncube said the courts have a duty to send a clear message that the protection of wildlife and the environment is paramount.
“This sentence is a message to the community to protect wildlife and the environment instead of attacking and destroying them,” he said.
Prosecuting, Ms Christina Manyika told the court that Ngwenya was arrested on October 15 at around 3.30PM at Old Pumula Shopping Centre after police detectives received a tip-off.
“Police detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Bulawayo received information that Ngwenya and her accomplice, Promise Moyo (29), were in possession of pangolin scales and were looking for a buyer,” she said.
Acting on the information, detectives contacted Moyo, pretending to be potential buyers. They agreed to meet at Old Pumula Shopping Centre.
When the suspects arrived, detectives observed Ngwenya holding a blue bag, which she handed to Moyo as they approached the vehicle. Moyo then began negotiating a price with the undercover officers.
“Detectives identified themselves by producing their identity cards and requested to search the accused persons.
“The pangolin scales were recovered wrapped in a blue plastic bag placed inside a black plastic bag, together with a Mobicel tablet phone belonging to Ngwenya,” said Ms Manyika.
The two failed to produce a permit authorising possession of the pangolin scales, leading to their immediate arrest.
The recovered scales, which weighed 1,294 kilogrammes, were sent to ZimParks for expert verification, where an ecologist confirmed they were genuine pangolin scales.
Meanwhile, Moyo pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to October 30 for trial.
Pangolins are critically endangered mammals and are protected under the Parks and Wildlife Act, which lists them as endangered species.
Possession or trade of pangolin or its parts without a permit carries a mandatory nine-year minimum sentence under the law.
