Zimbabwe: 13 years for rhino poaching

TWO Mozambicans have been sentenced to 13 years in prison each for poaching rhinos at Chipinge Safari Area.

Masvingo magistrate, Mr Oliver Mudzongachisvo last week sentenced Finos Elias Chauke (37) of Chauke Village, Chief Bhudhula, Manica in Mozambique and Chiko Jossai Chithlangu (34) of Saresawo Village in Chief Matsorele from the same province were arrested in the Chipinge Safari Area hunting rhinos with an AK47 rifle.

Another suspect only identified as Godfrey and believed to have been employed as a game scout at Malilangwe Conservancy is still on the run. The agreed facts are that sometime in March 2010, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority received information that there was a gang of poachers who intended to poach rhino in Chipinge Safari area. With the assistance of the ZRP, the authority tracked and later arrested the poachers.

Parks spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo, said the authority would continue to aggressively pursue poaching cases and are appealing to the public to relay information on suspected poachers. She commended the working relations existing between parks, police and the judiciary.

Just out of curiosity, in the legal system in Zim, does 13 years mean 13 years, or is there parole, good time, early release, etc. like on this side of the pont?

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Originally posted by lavaca:
Just out of curiosity, in the legal system in Zim, does 13 years mean 13 years, or is there parole, good time, early release, etc. like on this side of the pont?

Lavaca, it matters little, because any time spent in an African prison is usually a death sentence because of the gang rape infecting the prisoner with full blown AIDS! Being murdered in prison there is a better end to your sentence than dieing with untreated AIDS!

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Lavaca, it matters little, because any time spent in an African prison is usually a death sentence because of the gang rape infecting the prisoner with full blown AIDS! Being murdered in prison there is a better end to your sentence than dieing with untreated AIDS!

Yeah, this is exactly what I was thinking. There is a better than fair chance they will never walk out of that prison.