Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube
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A ZIMBABWE National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ranger who is accused of killing and beheading three lions in Hwange National Park has been released on US$200 bail.
HALI Mabuya (39) who was working at Mtshibi Camp in Hwange National Park, took his bail application to the High Court and Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Naison Chivhayo ordered him to reside in Mbundane in Bulawayo, report once fortnightly at Nkulumane Police Station and surrender any travel documents as part of his bail conditions pending finalisation of the case.
He is accused of unlawfully hunting after Contravening Section 24 (1) (b) As read With Section 24 (2) of the Parks and Wildlife Act and another of unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, a contravention of Section 4 (1) as read with Section 2 of the Firearms Act.
This was after his arrest on suspicion of being responsible for the shooting of the three lions that were found without heads and paws near Dom Pan Waterhole.
Mabuya was found with a Point 458 service rifle that was allegedly used in the callous killing of the three big cats and 52 live rounds of ammunition.
About 30 of the rounds had not been issued to him by the employer.
Mabuya allegedly used a service rifle which was recovered from him while a bullet head found on the scene reportedly matched the gun.
Mabuya was linked to the offence after he approached a workmate in the armoury department and asked her to alter dates in respect of when he had signed for and returned the Point 458 Rifle.
This prompted investigations which led to his arrest.
The carcasses were found near Dom Pan Waterhole in the giant park and each had gunshot wounds on the shoulders while some tyre marks and footprints were seen on the scene, raising suspicions of the presence of a poaching syndicate.
Mabuya is being represented by Ms Joyline Change of Mvhiringi and Associates.
The State suspects that there could be poaching syndicates involving rangers.
The court was told that the Point 458 bullet heads were recovered on the scene.
The gun was found in his possession.
Further searches led to the recovery of eight rounds of the Point 458 rifle in Mabuya’s black satchel,
15 more rounds of a Point 458 rifle, nine rounds of a Point 416, 11 rounds of a Point 373 rifle, one round of a Point 308 rifle, one round of a Gragnoff Rifle, and one round of a Point 223 rifle as well as 12 by 7 bore.
In total there were 52 live rounds recovered from Mabuya, and 30 rounds a Point 458 had not been issued to him by the employer, raising fears of a long-standing poaching expedition.
The lions were valued at US$60 000.
The trial has not started.
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