Poacher shot dead, two injured in shootout

Sunday News Reporter

ONE poacher was shot dead while two others were injured in a fierce exchange of gunfire with officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Authority early last week, a court heard.


The two accused persons, Mukosi Ngwenya (33) and Robert Mugande (36) of Sinamakonde area, Lusulu in Binga who survived the shoot out with serious injuries appeared before Binga magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu at Binga hospital where they have been receiving treatment under prison guards last Tuesday.
The two were charged with contravening section 59 of the Parks and Wildlife Authority Act.
They were remanded in custody to 30 March.
The court was convened at the hospital after it was realised that the two could not walk to the district magistrate’s court because of the serious nature of the injuries they sustained.
The State case as presented by the Prosecutor, Mr Mbuso Ndlovu, was that on 14 March this year, the three armed themselves with two 303 rifles and went to Chizarira National Park where it is suspected that they intended to poach an elephant for its horns.
On entering the park and as they were hunting the elephants, the three met the National Parks and Wildlife Authority (NPWA) details who were on routine patrol.
The three poachers were told to surrender themselves to the officials but they would have none of it.
Instead they responded by opening fire at the NPWA officials resulting in a deafening fierce exchange of gunfire between the two groups.
It was the State case that as the shoot out continued, one of the poachers was shot and he died on the spot while the other two were seriously injured.
However, the Prosecutor told the court, that despite one of them having been fatally shot dead they did not easily surrender and even tried to run away from the scene but could not go far since they were limping as a result of the injuries they had sustained.
They were caught and the case was reported to the police leading to their arrest and subsequent detention at Binga Hospital while the one who died was taken to Binga Hospital mortuary.
The two 303 rifles that they were using were recovered.

To be fair alot of us couldn't resist shooting an elephant either if we found one with "horns".

If I were to encounter an elephant with horns, I would subject myself to severe restrictions on sundowners before breakfast. I believe the horned ones thrive under the same conditions as the pink.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevenxbjt:
To be fair alot of us couldn't resist shooting an elephant either if we found one with "horns".

Reminds me of a news story posted here a while back. It seems those poachers were killing rhino for their ivory.

I'm downright disappointed that I didn't get in on the "horned" elephant jokes early on, although my dad did ask me last night if I see horned toads anymore...sadly no, I don't see them anymore.