500kg ivory intercepted at airport

By Tendai Rupapa
From The Herald
June 3, 2009

Three Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe security officers based at the Harare Interna-tional Airport allegedly assisted a Chinese man to smuggle 500kg of ivory to his homeland.

The three officers — Edson Hara, Mary Kusuwo and Shawn Shambare — who were on duty at the airport on January 16 this year, detected the ivory and instead of arresting the owner, allegedly connived with three soldiers who were escorting the ivory to let it through.

Hara, Kusuwo and Shambare allegedly connived with Cleopas Chidodo and three soldiers — Simon Mazonde, Owen Bafana and a third only identified as Zvobgo, who were all still at large — to facilitate the smuggling of 500kg of ivory from Zimbabwe to China.

It is said that Hara, whose duty was to operate an X-ray machine for scanning prohibited items, detected the ivory and instead of arresting the owner and handing him over to police and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials, notified Kusuwo and Shambare — his supervisors — of his discovery.

The three sought the owner of the ivory, who was identified as Wu Ming Quan.

They connived with the three soldiers who brought the ivory to the airport to let it pass.

The ivory was detected on arrival at Beijing International Airport.

It could not be established yesterday whether the ivory had been sent back to Harare or was still in China.

Hara, Kusuwo and Shambare, who face charges of criminal abuse of duty, yesterday appeared before magistrate Ms Jackie Munyonga.

They are denying the allegations.

Ms Munyonga denied them bail and advised them to apply at the High Court, which has due jurisdiction over such serious cases.

She remanded them in custody to June 18.

Ms Tinashe Kanyemba, who was being assisted by Ms Lethiwe Maphosa, appeared for the State.

Meanwhile, three National Handling Services employees at the Harare International Airport are being investigated on suspicion of being involved in shady deals and smugg- ling.

Sources close to the investigations yesterday said the three women (names supplied) were assisting people in evading duty payment.

It is suspected that the women recently aided some people in smuggling ivory, which was stashed in bags, out of the country.

In some of the cases, they were reportedly paid amounts above £50 (about US$75) and were said to be having flamboyant lifestyles.

And Hunters get all the blame for reducing Elephant herds. Until the Asian countries get serious about smuggling Rhino horn and Elephant Ivory, this will continue on it's monumental scale. LDK

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
500kg ivory intercepted at airport

...The three officers — Edson Hara, Mary Kusuwo and Shawn Shambare — who were on duty at the airport on January 16 this year, detected the ivory and instead of arresting the owner, allegedly connived with three soldiers who were escorting the ivory to let it through.

Hara, Kusuwo and Shambare allegedly connived with Cleopas Chidodo and three soldiers — Simon Mazonde, Owen Bafana and a third only identified as Zvobgo, who were all still at large — to facilitate the smuggling of 500kg of ivory from Zimbabwe to China...

Three Zimbabwean Airport Security officers and three soldiers are accused of ASSISTING smugglers?

I am shocked and amazed!

They were charging as much as $75 and living "flamboyant lifestyles"! You've gotta love Zimbabwe!

Les