Men get two-year jail terms each for poaching

Victoria Falls Reporter
May 7, 2010



TWO Victoria Falls poachers were on Wednesday jailed for two years each after they were convicted of setting up wire snares and killing a sable and a buffalo valued at US$2 200 at Chamabondo National Park.
Appearing before the Victoria Falls court resident magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea were Maxwell Nyathi of 4788 Chinotimba Township and Themba Moyo of 8279 Mkhosana Township in the resort town.
However, they will serve 18 months each after six months of their sentences were wholly suspended on condition that they do not commit an offence that includes setting up of wire snares or poaching in the next five years.
They were ordered to pay US$1 000 each as compensation to the park.
They had initially pleaded guilty to setting 15 snares and poaching a sable only, but the magistrate still convicted them of setting 23 wire snares and poaching a buffalo.
Sentencing the two, Mr Ramaboea said wild animals were the country's heritage left by past generations and therefore there was a need to protect them.
"Poaching is a disease that is costing the country a lot in potential revenue from tourism. After all we need to protect the animals so that our children and grandchildren also benefit from the heritage. Setting up 23 snares is wanton destruction and should not be condoned," he said.
It was the State case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Tawanda Ndovorwi, that on a date unknown to him but during the month of April, Nyathi and Moyo set 23 wire snares at Chamabondo National Park on the outskirts of Victoria Falls.
They caught a sable and a buffalo with the wire snares.
National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority game rangers discovered the wire snares during their patrols and laid an ambush, leading to the arrest of the two.
After their arrest, the 23 wire snares, two sable horns and a buffalo hide were recovered.