Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A TRADITIONAL healer and her accomplice, who are employed at Trophy International Consultants, have appeared in court for allegedly stealing 32 pangolin scales from their employer.
Phatheng Dube (64) and Thokozile Dube, both from Bulawayo’s Nketa suburb, appeared on Tuesday before
Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Ms Patience Ururu for contravening Section 45(1)(b) as read with Section 128 of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 120:14 — Possession of Specially Protected Animal Trophy (Pangolin Skin). They pleaded not guilty.
The pair are represented by their lawyer, Mr Dixon Abraham of Tanaka Law Chambers.
In their defence, through their lawyer Mr Abraham said: “The accused persons deny unlawfully possessing pangolin scales or any specially protected animal trophy. The criminal conduct alleged by the State was initiated and persistently pursued by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police acting under a false identity.
“Thokozile is a traditional healer and on the day in question she was called by a police officer who claimed that he was not feeling well and wanted pangolin scales. Thokozile told him that she did not have pangolin scales and could only give him herbs.”
Mr Abraham further said Thokozile later learnt that the person who called her several times was a police officer who disguised himself as a prospective customer wanting to buy pangolin scales.
Mr Abraham stated that the pair were arrested after Thokozile saw two males who suspiciously followed her and suspected that they might be robbers intending to attack her.
“Fearing for her life, Thokozile had to call Phatheng, who rushed to the scene, leading to their arrest,” said Mr Abraham.
The matter was postponed to 12 June.
Prosecuting, Ms Nomthandazo Mafu submitted that on 15 April 2026, at around 8 AM, Phatheng stole 32 pangolin scales from their workplace at Trophy International Consultants in Belmont, Bulawayo. He then gave them to Thokozile so that she could sell them.
“On the same date, detectives from CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit, Bulawayo, received a tip that Thokozile was in possession of pangolin scales, which she was selling. Detectives started communicating with Thokozile, purporting to be potential buyers of the pangolin scales. Thokozile agreed to meet the detectives in the city centre,” Ms Mafu told the court.
At around 10:30AM on the same day, detectives proceeded to the agreed place.
“The detective who was posing as a buyer continued communicating with Thokozile while another police officer was watching from a few metres away.
“The detectives saw Thokozile placing a blue plastic bag in her handbag and walking towards the detective posing as a buyer. They then approached her and identified themselves as police detectives by producing their police identity cards and requested to search her. She agreed. During the search, pangolin scales were recovered wrapped in two blue plastic bags placed inside a black handbag she was carrying,” said Ms Mafu.
Thokozile was asked to produce a licence or permit for being in possession of pangolin scales, but she failed to do so, leading to their arrest.
