adminAuxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
A 38-year-old Binga man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegal possession of ivory and setting up 93 wire snares with the intention to trap animals.
Colia Mudimba of Kaningo Village in Siabuwa will serve an effective 11 and half years behind bars after being found guilty by Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Stephen Ndlovu.
In passing sentence, Ndlovu said poachers were a danger to both society and wildlife and as such deserved lengthy jail terms.
“While efforts are being made to save wildlife in this country, there are people like you who acting otherwise and opposing efforts being made by government and the Parks and Wildlife to conserve the animals. For count one, I am sentencing you to two years imprisonment and 10 years for illegal possession of ivory,” he said.
Six months were suspended on condition that Mudimba does not commit a similar offence involving trapping of animals.
Appearing for the state, Bruce Maphosa told the court that in April this year, Mudimba, who was in the company of two accomplices who are still at large, was spotted by two game rangers who were on patrol at Matetsi Chete Safari.
Upon realising that they had been spotted, his accomplices ran away but Ndlovu was not so lucky as he was apprehended.
He was found in possession of two elephant tusks weighing 8,8 kilogrammes and 8,1 kilogrammes respectively with an estimated value of $50 000.
Mudimba was alleged to have set 93 wire snares and caught two female impalas and two female kudus which were recovered when he was arrested.
Magistrate Ndlovu said the 93 wire snares would be forfeited to the State for them to be destroyed while the elephant tusks would be handed over to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
Online Reporter