Zimparks ranger up for theft, criminal abuse of office

Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau

A ranger with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), Mathew Mudimu was on Wednesday arraigned before a Chinhoyi Magistrate facing theft and criminal abuse of office charges.

He was granted US$100 bail. Mudimu (37) from Kariba was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission ZACC) for allegedly selling stolen kapenta fishing permit tags.

The court heard that that Mudimu allegedly conspired with a fellow ranger Courage Homela, to steal unregistered fishing tags from ZimParks storerooms.

The tags, it was learnt, were meant for official allocation to kapenta fishers. In March 2023, Mapuranga Chikwasha, a fisherman, had his application for a kapenta fishing permit rejected due to overcapacity in the lake.

However, Mudimu is reported to have offered Chikwasha three stolen fishing tags on lease for US$450 per month and the fisherman paid US$700 through Mudimu’s wife.

The accused is said to have later installed one of the tags on Chikwasha’s vessel. ZimParks officials on routine patrol discovered the unregistered tag before impounding the vessel.

Investigations revealed that the tag was among those stolen from ZimParks. The accused is said to have prejudiced ZimParks of approximately US$1 200.

He is expected to return to court on December 14, 2024.