Poaching lands man behind bars

Beitbridge Bureau

A 34-YEAR-OLD man from Swereki Village in Beitbridge West was yesterday jailed for two years for poaching a giraffe and two impalas on the farm of Home Affairs Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi.

His 18-year-old brother was lashed with four cuts of a rotten cane for the same offence.

Smart and Goodwill Moyo, who are siblings, were convicted on their own plea of guilty when

they appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Tawengwa Sangster.

Smart had six months of his sentence conditionally suspended.

Charges against the two arose on July 14, 2008 when they went to Upper Zhovhe Farm on two ox-drawn carts armed with spears, machetes and axes.

At the farm they killed a giraffe and two impalas which they skinned using spears but fled, leaving behind their carts when they realised that they had been spotted by a farm worker.

A report was made to the police when some farm workers who had been called to help failed to catch up with the suspects.

The two were arrested in their village the following day when police made a follow-up.