Elephant poaching syndicate busted

By DUMISANI NSINGO in Hwange

POLICE in Binga and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) game rangers busted an elephant poaching syndicate and recovered 12 tusks, arms and ammunition.


Police in Matabeleland North province confirmed the arrest of three suspected poachers last Wednesday believed to be behind a spate of elephant poaching activities in Binga.
The trio — Tawu Tinos (69), Tennyson Chombo (20) both from Binga and Alex Chirivengwa (33) from Old Highfield in Harare were arrested following a public tip off that they had shot and killed three male elephants at Nakabuli in Binga.
“I can confirm that a team comprising two police officers from Binga and nine ZPWMA rangers on a follow up mission went to the homestead of the suspects in Gokwe after receiving a tip off from members of the public.
“When the officers arrived at the homestead, the culprits ran away and the officers gave chase and managed to arrest two of the suspects while another escaped in a Mazda 323 car which was parked at the homestead,’’ said the provincial police spokesperson Inspector Trust Ndlovu.
The inspector said the suspects’ car took off at high speed prompting a ZPWMA driver to give chase.
After a high speed chase of about three kilometres the suspects’ vehicle developed a mechanical problem and got grounded.
Five of the suspects bolted leaving the driver of the car who was apprehended before he could escape.
“Police officers searched the car and recovered 12 elephant tusks weighing 63,94 kilogrammes and two 303 rifles and empty magazines at a certain homestead in Gokwe.
“On further interrogation, the suspects said they were taking the tusks to Botswana where they had a ready market,’’ Insp Ndlovu said.
Five suspects are still at large including the owner of the homestead where the rifles were found.