malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
A ranger and police officer were sentenced to nine years in prison after being caught with 28kg elephant tusks valued at US$4 819,50.
Thirty-eight-year-old ranger Simbio Kakomo, police officer Sheperd Musiniwa (32) and Ernest Kabanda (44) were arrested for unlawful possession of unmarked raw ivory.
“Simbio Kakomo (38), who is employed by the Hwange National Park as a ranger; Sheperd Musiniwa (32), who is employed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police; and Ernest Kabanda (44) were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on charges of unlawful possession of raw ivory,” said the National Prosecuting Authority in a statement.
The court heard that on April 14, 2022, police received a tip-off that the accused persons were in possession of elephant tusks and were looking for buyers.
They approached the accused persons pretending to be buyers.
The trio was subsequently arrested, leading to the recovery of the ivory.
Kabanda and Musiniwa will serve an effective nine years in prison, while Kakomo is understood to be on the run.
Bongani Ndlovu