Two in court over US$5 000 pangolin scales

It is trite that the Messenger of Court cannot proceed with a sale as soon as funds sufficient to pay the judgment debt and costs have been raised

TWO Bulawayo men have appeared in court after they were allegedly found in possession of 20 pangolin scales valued at US$5 000.

Pangolins are listed as specially protected species under the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Thandoyenkosi Ndlovu (28) of Entumbane suburb and Thandile Sibanda (23) of Bilazi Farm in Khami appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube facing charges of unlawfully possessing a specially protected animal trophy in contravention of Section 45(1)(b), as read with Section 128(1)(b), of the Parks and Wildlife Act [Chapter 20:14], as amended.

Ndlovu pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to Wednesday for sentencing, while Sibanda pleaded not guilty and was remanded to July 21 for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Tafara Dzimbanhete told the court that on July 3 at around 9AM, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Bulawayo received information that the two men were in possession of pangolin scales and were looking for a buyer.

Police obtained Ndlovu’s cellphone number and an undercover detective posed as a prospective buyer.
“After the detectives got Ndlovu’s number, they pretended to be potential buyers of the pangolin scales. They agreed to meet near Khami Prison Canteen to finalise the deal,” said Mr Dzimbanhete.

At about 4PM, detectives proceeded to the agreed meeting point, where the undercover officer maintained contact with Ndlovu while other officers kept the area under surveillance.

“The two accused persons entered the vehicle being driven by the undercover detective posing as the buyer. The other detectives then identified themselves and conducted a search, leading to the recovery of 20 pangolin scales wrapped in plastic and concealed inside a green bread plastic bag,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard that the accused were asked to produce a licence or permit authorising them to possess the pangolin scales but failed to do so, resulting in their arrest.

The recovered scales were taken to ZimPost in Bulawayo, where they were weighed in the presence of the accused and found to weigh 0,176 kilogrammes.

They were later examined by an ecologist from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), who confirmed that they were indeed pangolin scales.