Chitungwiza pair fined

Court Reporter.
July 13, 2009

Two Chitungwiza men were on Wednesday fined US$300 each for illegally possessing ivory and zebra trophies valued at US$13 000.

Benjamin Smart and Naboth Chisuko, who separately appeared before magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga, should pay the fines before the end of July.

If they default payment, Ms Mariga ruled, the duo risk spending two months in prison.

The two pleaded guilty to breaching the Parks and Wildlife Act before the court fined them.

Prosecutor Miss Memory Mukapa, for the State, alleged that on June 18 this year police received information that the two were illegally dealing in ivory and trophies and tracked them down.

When they approached the corner of Julius Nyerere Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue in Harare, detectives from the Minerals Unit identified themselves and searched the two. Chisuko was found in possession of nine elephant tusks, eight ivory date stamps, 14 ivory bangles and a Zebra skin all valued at US$9 120. — Court Reporter.