8 suspected poachers in court

Herald Reporter
October 13, 2010

POLICE have arrested six foreigners and two Zimbabweans who allegedly gunned down and dehorned three rhinos worth US$45 000 in Masvingo and Guruve.

The eight were arrested by police who waylaid them on their way to another suspected poaching expedition.

Yemba Pauni Mulamba (46) his two sons Yemba (26) and Lomane (24) all from DRC, Zambians Wilifoni Meki (46), Patrick Chibila (54), Justin Tembo (46) and Zimbabweans Shapiro Shungu Michael Tagwirei (28) and Owen Godzi have since appeared in court.

They were charged with breaching section 45 (I) of the Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14, which criminalises hunting specially protected animals.

The eight were also charged with contravening section 4 (ii) of the Fire Arms Act 10:09, which criminalises possessing firearms without a certificate.

The eight were remanded in custody to today while the court seeks services of Tonga and Nyanja interpreters.

It is the State’s case that on June 12 this year the eight went to Lake Kyle in Masvingo while driving a Honda Odyssey and killed two rhinos before de-horning them at the scene.

On August 26, it is alleged, the gang went to Nyamacheni Sanctuary in Guruve using the same vehicle and allegedly killed a white rhino which they dehorned.

Sometime in September the gang allegedly went to Masvingo again on a poaching mission but were disturbed and escaped.

They hid their AK47 rifle in the bush to avoid detection.

On October 5 this year at about 12:30 pm detectives from Border Control Unit were tipped that a team of poachers had gone to poach in the Masvingo area.

They waylaid the gang at a tollgate along the Harare-Masvingo Road.

The gang was taken to CID Minerals where police recovered an elephant tusk hidden inside a blue pillow case in the boot of the vehicle.

Mulamba led them to his Ashdown Park house in Harare where an AK47 rifle was recovered.

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority yesterday commended the Border Control Unit for their relentless effort in combating wildlife crime and sterling work in apprehending offenders.