Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
A TRADITIONAL healer and her accomplice, who were employed at Trophy International Consultants, have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 10 years in prison for stealing 32 pangolin scales from their employer.
Phatheng Dube (64), who is also a traditional healer and Thokozile Dube, both from Bulawayo’s Nketa suburb, appeared on Friday 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).
Mrs Ururu sentenced Phatheng to five years, suspending two years on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.
Phatheng will effectively serve three years in jail. Thokozile was also sentenced to five years, with two years suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.
In sentencing them, the magistrate said the pair teamed up to carry out the offence and breached the trust their employer had in them.
She also noted that cases of pangolin theft are prevalent and as such, a strong message should be sent to deter would-be offenders.
“Cases of theft of specially protected species are prevalent. To deter this, you must be jailed so as to discourage would-be offenders,” said Mr Ururu.
Prosecutor, Ms Nkanyezi Xaba told the court that Phatheng and his accomplice Thokozile committed a serious crime.
“The accused conspired to steal 32 pangolin scales from their employer. They carefully planned to carry out the offence so as to cover their tracks,” said Ms Xaba.
The pair were represented by their lawyer, Mr Dixon Abraham of Tanaka Law Chambers.
Ms Xaba 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 the CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit, Bulawayo, received a tip-off 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 Xaba 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 watched 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, identified themselves as police detectives by producing their police identity cards and requested to search her,” said Ms Xaba.
“She agreed and during the search, pangolin scales were recovered wrapped in two blue plastic bags placed inside a black handbag she was carrying.”
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.
