Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A VILLAGE head from Chiweshe has been fined after he was found in possession of a baboon skull and leopard skins valued at US$40 500.
Ernest Nhamburo (51) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Lisa Mutendereki, where he pleaded guilty to contravening the Wildlife and Parks Act for unlawfully possessing animal trophies.
He was fined US$200 or, in default, six months’ imprisonment.
The recovered exhibits were forfeited to the State and handed over to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
The State was represented by Detective Sergeant Murahwa of the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit, Harare, while Ms Polite Chikiwa prosecuted.
The court heard that on April 14, 2026, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit received a tip-off that a man in Harare’s central business district was in possession of a leopard skin and was seeking buyers.
Acting on the information, the detectives proceeded to Africa Unity Square, where they conducted surveillance.
After a short while, they spotted Nhamburo, who matched the description provided by the informer.
The detectives approached him, identified themselves and requested to search his satchel bag. Nhamburo consented to the search.
During the search, detectives recovered one baboon skull and two leopard cub skins wrapped in a transparent plastic bag inside a black satchel.
Nhamburo failed to produce a valid permit authorising possession of the wildlife trophies, leading to his immediate arrest.
At the CID offices, a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority official, Mr Everisto Simayo, examined the recovered items and confirmed that they were genuine wildlife specimens.
The baboon skull was valued at US$500, while the leopard skins were valued at US$40 000.
