adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A MAGISTRATE has ordered the arrest of game rangers at Luckynow Game Conservancy in West Nicholson in Gwanda District after they allegedly savagely assaulted a suspected poacher.
Trust Sibanda, 30, of Mberengwa, said he suffered ill-treatment by game rangers at Luckynow Game Conservancy.
Appearing before magistrate Arafat Kozanai yesterday, Sibanda revealed that he was in pain after being assaulted by the game rangers.
The magistrate ordered the State, represented by Edward Ndlovu, to make a follow up on the issue of Sibanda’s alleged assault by the rangers.
The rangers could face assault charges.
Sibanda is nursing injuries under his feet after he was allegedly beaten up by five rangers on Friday last week.
“There were about five rangers who ganged up and assaulted me with a log. They assaulted me one after the other. The assaults were directed under my feet and also on my head. I sustained some bruises on the head.
“I now have serious challenges in walking because my feet are sore and have blisters under them. Since Friday, I’ve been struggling to move around,” he said.
Sibanda was allegedly assaulted by rangers for setting wire snares at the farm to illegally trap animals.
He was fined $100 or 30 days imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to theft of 520 metres of plain wire which was used on the game conservancy fence.
Sibanda cut the wire and took it away but was tracked by the game rangers who caught him red handed carrying some wire snares leading to his arrest.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter