Rhino horn deal sucks in deputy minister

in which three men were arrested in possession of two rhino horns worth $120 000 last week.

Police recovered the horns in an Isuzu KB300 registered in the name of Mr Zvidzai at Roadport in Harare.

The vehicle has since been impounded following the arrest of Zivanai Masvaire (27), a game scout at Eldorado Farm, Charles Dowerowe (37) and Shepherd Naite (37).

The trio was arrested while allegedly trying to smuggle the horns to South Africa. The three are being charged with poaching and an alternative charge of unlawful possession of a trophy of an endangered species.
Their alleged accomplices, Naison Murindatsimba, a soldier, Ophel Makumburenga and his cousin Musiringo are still at large.
Dowerowe and Naite were arrested before they could flee 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 possession of 15 elephant tusks valued at $8 500.
The trio yesterday appeared before regional magistrate Mr Hosiah Mujaya and had their application to have their detention pending court appearance declared unlawful, thrown out. Through their lawyer, Mr Norman Mugiya, the trio is expected to apply for bail today.

Prosecutor, Mr Michael Reza opposed the application, arguing that such an order can only be made by the High Court.
“A declaratory order is a final order; it forms part of precedence. Ordinarily, it is not appealable, only a judge can issue such an order,” he argued.

Mr Reza said the police had lawfully detained the suspects because they had a warrant of further detention.
He urged the court to dismiss the defence’s application, as it was frivolous.

It is the State’s case that on 31 December last year, Masvaire, Dowerowe, Naite and their accomplices hatched a plan to kill a rhinoceros at Eldorado Farm in Macheke.
Masvaire coordinated and directed his accomplices into the farm where they killed a rhinoceros and dehorned it, the State alleges.

Investigations led to Masvaire’s arrest and he implicated Dowerowe and the others.
Dowerowe and Naite led the police to the recovery of the horns, which were stashed in an Isuzu KB300 registration number ABI 8755 they were driving.
Ends.