Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
A HARARE regional magistrate has issued a warrant of arrest against a Mutare man who failed to appear in court for judgment in a case involving the unlawful possession of a pangolin trophy.
Tinotenda Ethan Chinaka did not attend court yesterday, prompting Regional Magistrate Ms Feresi Chakanyuka to issue the warrant.
His co-accused, Elvis Murombo, appeared before the court. The matter was postponed to Friday. Both men had been out on bail pending judgment. Both Chinaka and Murombo are employed at Mega Market in Mutare.
The State is the complainant.
Prosecutor Mrs Heather Mhlanga-Muokoto told the court that the two men were allegedly found in possession of a pangolin trophy without the requisite permit and intended to sell it to prospective buyers in Harare.
The court heard that on December 10, 2025, a detective from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) in Harare received information that the accused were in possession of a pangolin trophy in Mutare and were searching for buyers.
The informant supplied detectives with Murombo’s cellphone number and an undercover detective posing as a wildlife products buyer contacted him. Murombo allegedly agreed to conclude the deal in Harare’s central business district on December 16, 2025.
On the agreed date, Murombo reportedly informed the undercover officer that he was unavailable and would instead send Chinaka to complete the transaction.
The detective then contacted Chinaka, who directed him to meet at the corner of Fifth Street and Robert Mugabe Way in Harare.
Detectives mounted a surveillance operation, with the undercover officer meeting Chinaka, while backup teams patiently waited nearby.
The court heard that Chinaka arrived carrying a black satchel containing the pangolin trophy, which had been wrapped in a transparent plastic bag and placed inside a brown cement sack.
He allegedly offered to sell the trophy for US$2 500 per kilogramme. After the trophy was produced, the undercover detective signalled the backup team, which immediately arrested Chinaka. Police recovered the pangolin trophy from his possession and asked him to produce a permit authorising him to possess the specimen, but he allegedly failed to do so.
During questioning, Chinaka allegedly implicated Murombo, saying he had referred him to the purported buyer and had given him bus fare to travel from Mutare to Harare.
Detectives later travelled to Mutare, where, with the assistance of CID MFFU Mutare officers, Murombo was arrested at his workplace before being taken to Harare.
Investigations further revealed that the pair allegedly collected the pangolin trophy from a man identified only as Stanley in Mutasa District with the intention of selling it to buyers in Harare.
The recovered pangolin trophy is valued at US$5 000.
