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Sessel Zvidzai has taken a new twist with the three suspects now being linked to the murder of a game ranger.
The trio was caught with the rhino horns in an Isuzu KB300 registered in the deputy minister’s name.
Deputy Minister Zvidzai yesterday distanced himself from the case, saying he sold the vehicle.
“The true facts of the matter are the car ceased to be mine on 22 March 2010 and the new owner is Mr Rodgers Gaka of Harare who runs a car-rental company, Rodygar Tours and Car Hire.
“Since then, I have had nothing to do with the said vehicle and was surprised to see my name being linked to this vehicle probably because the change of ownership process is yet to be completed.”
Court papers indicate that the vehicle is registered in Deputy Minister Zvidzai’s name.
It emerged during the accused’s bail hearing that two cartridges found near the spot where a rhino was killed matched a cartridge that was recovered when a game ranger was shot dead on the same farm last year.
Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza told Harare regional magistrate Mr Hosiah Mujaya that Zivanai Masvaire (27), a game scout at Eldorado Farm, Charles Dowerowe (37) and Shepherd Naite (37) were likely to face a further charge of murder.
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Mr Reza was responding to the bail application by the three, who are being charged with poaching and an alternative charge of unlawful possession of a trophy of an endangered species.
Defence lawyer Mr Norman Mugiya had requested the court to release his clients, arguing they were proper candidates for bail since they were of fixed aboard.
“The crime is not serious as it is less than common assault and the accused persons were never found with the horns and they had not bought any bus tickets as alleged by the State,” said Mr Mugiya.
Mr Reza strenuously opposed bail, saying the three were not suitable candidates.
He said they were likely to face murder charges in connection with the death of the game ranger.
“They are also facing a very serious offence hence if they are released on bail, there is a likelihood of absconding,” said Mr Reza.
“It is not like a tribesman who has been found poaching fish or rabbit, but they were found in possession of two horns of a specially protected animal.”
Mr Reza left the gallery in stitches when he said: “An animal is not like a mango tree which produces fruits on its own. As we speak, there are four female rhinos that are angry because their husband was killed.”
After hearing arguments from both the defence and State counsel, Mr Mujaya ruled against granting the accused bail and remanded them to January 23 for trial.
The trio’s alleged accomplices, Ophel Makumburenga and his cousin Musiringo and Naison Murindatsimba, a soldier, are still at large.
Dowerowe and Naite were arrested before they could board a bus to South Africa with the horns weighing 8,2 kilogrammes.
Naite has a pending case before the courts in which he is jointly charged with three others for possessing 15 elephant tusks worth US$8 500.
Online Reporter