Sukoluhle Ndlovu
A GWERU-BASED pastor was last month nabbed in Gokwe together with three accomplices after allegedly being found in possession of ivory, crocodile skin and 30 live rounds of ammunition. Pastor Garikai Masunda of 72 Brunkanhurt plots in Gweru was arrested together with Chipo Bridget Tinago (29) of 92 Mutondo Street, Mufakose, Harare as well as Gerald Sinyoro and Tamuka Madavanhu of Gokwe.
Prosecutor Tineyi Tirigo told the court that on 12 February at around 3pm, a patrol team comprising Zimbabwe Republic Police and members of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority were on joint operation in Chilimba area, Gokwe, where they received information that the four accused were allegedly involved in illegal dealings in ivory.
The team then carried out a stop and search operation where they found the four accused persons parked at a lay-by. Tinago was seated in the car while the three men were standing outside.
The team introduced themselves and requested to search the vehicle. They found an elephant task wrapped with a cloth. It weighed 1,3 kilogrammes and was valued at $306,25. During the search a plastic bottle containing 30 live rounds of ammunition of a 302 riffle was recovered underneath a mat which was in front of the passenger seat.
The accused persons failed to produce a licence for the ammunition upon being asked to do so.
The four were taken to Siakobvu Police Station where a thorough search was conducted leading to the recovery of one crocodile skin valued at $1 500 in the boot of the vehicle. They also failed to produce a permit for possessing it.
The four appeared before Gokwe regional magistrate Mr Sheperd Mjanja and only Madavanhu pleaded guilty to the charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act and the Fire Arms Act. He was slapped with nine years imprisonment for count one and 12 months each on counts two and three. Three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
The trio who pleaded not guilty will be back in court next week. B-Metr
A GWERU-BASED pastor was last month nabbed in Gokwe together with three accomplices after allegedly being found in possession of ivory, crocodile skin and 30 live rounds of ammunition. Pastor Garikai Masunda of 72 Brunkanhurt plots in Gweru was arrested together with Chipo Bridget Tinago (29) of 92 Mutondo Street, Mufakose, Harare as well as Gerald Sinyoro and Tamuka Madavanhu of Gokwe.
Prosecutor Tineyi Tirigo told the court that on 12 February at around 3pm, a patrol team comprising Zimbabwe Republic Police and members of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority were on joint operation in Chilimba area, Gokwe, where they received information that the four accused were allegedly involved in illegal dealings in ivory.
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| The team then carried out a stop and search operation where they found the four accused persons parked at a lay-by. Tinago was seated in the car while the three men were standing outside. |
The team introduced themselves and requested to search the vehicle. They found an elephant task wrapped with a cloth. It weighed 1,3 kilogrammes and was valued at $306,25. During the search a plastic bottle containing 30 live rounds of ammunition of a 302 riffle was recovered underneath a mat which was in front of the passenger seat.
The accused persons failed to produce a licence for the ammunition upon being asked to do so.
The four were taken to Siakobvu Police Station where a thorough search was conducted leading to the recovery of one crocodile skin valued at $1 500 in the boot of the vehicle. They also failed to produce a permit for possessing it.
The four appeared before Gokwe regional magistrate Mr Sheperd Mjanja and only Madavanhu pleaded guilty to the charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act and the Fire Arms Act. He was slapped with nine years imprisonment for count one and 12 months each on counts two and three. Three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
The trio who pleaded not guilty will be back in court next week. B-Metr
