Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
Two men appeared in court last Friday accused of unlawful possession of raw ivory valued at US$1 640.
Kennedy Marengu and Fadreck Magwere were brought before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo on charges of illegal possession of unmarked raw ivory.
The pair, represented by lawyer Mr Malevern Mapako, were remanded in custody to February 3.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe told the court that on January 8, 2026, Detective Sergeant Kemusi received a tip-off that the accused were in possession of ivory and were seeking buyers in the Beatrice area.
Acting on the information, Detective Sergeant Kemusi obtained contact details for Kennedy Marengu and called him while posing as a potential buyer of wildlife products.
The accused agreed to sell the ivory to the undercover officer and arranged to meet at the Southlea Park turnoff along the Harare-Masvingo Highway.
On the agreed day, Detective Sergeant Kemusi, along with a team of detectives, proceeded to the meeting point.
The accused arrived and entered the purported buyer’s vehicle, and sat in the back seat.
Fadreck Magwere, the second accused, was carrying a white sack containing two pieces of raw ivory. He removed the pieces from the sack and showed them to Detective Sergeant Kemusi.
The two accused negotiated a price of US$70 per kilogramme with the undercover buyer.
Upon reaching an agreement, Detective Sergeant Kemusi gave a signal to the backup team. The detectives quickly intervened, apprehending the suspects.
At the time of the arrest, Magwere had the two pieces of ivory on his lap, while the white sack containing the ivory was on the seat.
The detectives identified themselves to the accused by displaying their service identity cards. They then asked the suspects if they had any permits authorising them to possess the ivory.
The accused failed to produce the required documentation, leading to their immediate arrest. The two pieces of ivory were seized as evidence and the suspects were subsequently taken into custody.
